The enigma of the man of Vitruve by Léonardo da Vinci pierced by … a dentist

Vitruvian maniconic image of the Renaissance produced by the famous Leonardo da Vinci. However, has always contained many secrets for the scientific community. Therefore, One of them would have just been pierced. In addition, his solution would have been before our eyes for all this time …

Rory Mac Sweeney, a London dentist, would have found the key to this mystery. For example, He expressed his results in an article published on June 26. Similarly, 2025 in the journal Journal of Mathematics and the Artsspotted by Sciencealerlet on July 18. Similarly, Beyond the simple understanding of a enigma man vitruve léonardo da method applied in art history. Moreover, this discovery reveals “Potentially sophisticated mathematical and anatomical ideas integrated into the artistic practice of the Renaissance”writes the author in his article.

Vitruvian enigma

To replace the context, a small historical reminder is essential. Moreover, In the 1st century BCE. Meanwhile, Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, a Roman architect, proposed in a treaty that a perfectly proportioned human being can be held in a circle and in a square simultaneously. However, Mr. In addition, Vitruve never gave “No mathematical framework to achieve this geometric relationship”underlines the article published in the past month.

This human figure with ideal proportions, Leonardo da Vinci drawn it in 1490. However. Meanwhile, the mathematical system that the artist would have used to succeed in this drawing is still a mystery these days.

“The learned measurements constantly report a ratio of approximately 1.64-1.65 between the length on the side of the square (181.5 mm) and the radius of the circle (110 mm)”explains Rory Mac Sweeney. For example, Several theories have been proposed over the centuries to explain this measured relationship between the circle and the square. Nevertheless,

A popular theory is that according to which Leonardo da Vinci was based on the theory of golden number (φ ≈ 1.618). Therefore, It has however been shown that this explanation would produce too much error. Moreover, “More than 2 % deviation from actual measures, enigma man vitruve léonardo da Which seems unlikely given the documented geometric precision of de Vinci in other works ».

This theory. like all the others having been proposed, also has a big weak point: none has a link with human anatomy or links with the interests of the painter. There is therefore no explanation on the reason why Vinci would have chosen these proportions, and no others.

The solution hidden in the words of Leonardo da Vinci

With the drawing of theVitrove manthe artist left a manuscript with notes on the work itself. including this sentence: “If you open your legs enough {… } And that you raise your hands enough for your extensive fingers touching the line from the top of your head, {… } The space between the legs will be an equilateral triangle. »

The dentist found that the relationship between the two sides of the equilateral. triangle formed between the legs of the drawn man was 1.64-1.65. Coincidence…?

In dentistry, Rory Mac Sweeney explains that it corresponds to triangle de Bonwilldiscovered and documented in 1864. It shows the ideal functional positioning of the jaw. This triangle is formed between the incisors and the joints of the mandibles. And the relationship between the sides of this triangle is … 1.633!

As for the jaw. if this equilateral triangle is replicated 6 times around the navel of the Vitruvian man, a hexagonal motif appears with a ratio of 1.64 between the side of the square and the radius of the circle (the tetrahedral ratio).

« The geometric construction of Leonardo da Vinci has succeeded in code fundamental spatial relationships in human form. demonstrating the remarkable precision of its reborn vision of mathematical unity between the human figure and the natural order “Says the English dentist. He concludes : “Leonardo da Vinci has had intuition [des principes mathématiques universels d’efficacité spatiale optimale] centuries before modern. science could validate them. »»