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The Golden Section is an ancient Greek concept. It is a formula developed in 600 B.C. by the
Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras to define the concept of natural harmony.
The work began after Pythagoras decided random chance alone was not enough to account for the
blending of strength and beauty found in plants, animals, and minerals. Pythagoras proved that
the balance between form and function which is the basis of nature's designs is the result
of precise mathematical relationships.
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In architecture, art, and the natural sciences, the concept has since become the foundation
for achieving classic, pleasing proportions. The Greeks and Romans used the Golden Section
to create architectural masterpieces, with the Parthenon as a classic example.
Nearly 2,000 years later, the concept took hold in Europe where chartres and other Gothic cathedrals are highly ornate expressions of the Golden Section. During the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci brought the same formula to scuplture and painting. Many of his works, including the Mona Lisa, were composed with the aid of an invisible matrix set down according to the mathematical rules of the Golden Section. |