The Principle of PROPORTION

PROPORTION: The principle of art concerned with the size relationship of one object or element to another.

5 ways of showing Proportion: 1) Scale: Refers to the size of an object in relation to another object around or in it’s environment. Claes Oldenburg, Clothespin

Another Example of Scale Cleas Oldenburg, Swiss Army Knife

5 ways of showing Proportion: 2) Hierarchical Proportion: Shows the most important figures or objects larger then the less important figures. Hunting Scene, Tomb of Nakht, Egypt

Another Example of Hierarchical Proportion Greek Vase

5 ways of showing Proportion: 3) Foreshortening: To shorten the proportion of an object to make it look as if it extends backward into space. Andrea Mantegna, The Dead Christ

Another Example of Foreshortening David Alfaro Siqueiros, Self Portrait

5 ways of showing Proportion: 4) Distortion: Any Deviations from, or exaggeration of normal proportions. Marc Chagall, Birthday

Another Example of Distortion Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne

5 ways of showing Proportion: 5) Real or correct proportion: The ratio of all the parts of the body from head to feet.

This astonishing Renaissance sculpture was created between 1501 and 1504. It is a 14 ft marble statue depicting the Biblical hero David, represented as a standing male nude.  It was the largest statue made since Ancient Rome. It is considered by many experts in art to be a near perfect sculpture. Today the statue resides at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. 

Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564) Growing up in Florence during the Italian Renasissance was the perfect environment for young Michelangelo. Even as a child all he wanted to do was paint and be an artist. His father, a local government official, wanted Michelangelo to go to school, but he had little interest in school. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to a local painter and artist.  Training to be an Artist  Michelangelo's extreme talents soon became apparent. Within a year he was sent to the powerful Medici family to continue his training, working with a sculptor.. While with the Medici family Michelangelo was able to work with some of the finest artists and philosophers of the time. 

Michelangelo Buonarroti, Pieta In 1496 Michelangelo moved from Florence to Rome. A year later he received a commission to make a sculpture called the Pieta. It would become one of the masterpieces of Renaissance Art. The sculpture shows Jesus after he was crucified lying on the lap of his mother Mary. Today this sculpture sits in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It is the only piece of art that Michelangelo signed.  Michelangelo Buonarroti, Pieta

Michelangelo Buonarroti, David (detail) Statue of David  Michelangelo's fame as a great artist began to grow. He returned to Florence and received another commission to create the large statue of David. The piece of marble he began with was very tall and thin, two other artist had tried to create a sculpture from the same piece of marble and failed. Many people didn't think Michelangelo could do much with it. He worked in secrecy, not letting anyone see it until it was finished.  Michelangelo Buonarroti, David (detail)

Michelangelo was able to create this masterpiece from a single 18 ft block of allegedly cracked and discarded marble, when he was only 26. When it was finished 28 months later it was thought to be the most beautiful sculpture ever created.

It is known from archive documents that Michelangelo worked on the statue in utmost secrecy, hiding his masterpiece in the making up until January 1504. Since he worked in an open courtyard, when it rained he worked soaked. He slept sporadically and kept his clothes and boots on, he also rarely ate.

The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Sistine Chapel In 1505 Michelangelo returned to Rome Sistine Chapel In 1505 Michelangelo returned to Rome. He was commissioned by the Pope in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo considered himself to be a sculptor, but agreed to paint the Sistine Chapel for the Pope. He worked for four years, painting standing on a scaffold in order to finish the painting. The painting was huge (141 feet long by 43 feet wide). It contained nine scenes from the Bible down its center and over 300 people. Fun Fact - No two of the 300 people painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel look alike.

The Sistine Chapel (entire ceiling), Vatican City

The Creation of Adam

The most famous of all the scenes is The Creation of Adam The most famous of all the scenes is The Creation of Adam. At the center of the scene, God's hand and Adam's hand nearly touch. This is one of the most recreated scenes in all of art and, along with the Mona Lisa, is one of the most famous paintings in history. 

Expulsion of Adam & Eve

Ceiling detail, Sistine Chapel

Ceiling detail, Sistine Chapel

Ceiling detail, Sistine Chapel Michelangelo spent years studying the human body. He even looked at dead bodies so he could learn the way the muscles and bones were attached and how arms and legs moved. He drew sketches of people in various positions, concentrating on getting the muscles just right. Many of these sketches still exist so we can see how Michelangelo prepared to create his masterpieces. Ceiling detail, Sistine Chapel

The Last Judgment-The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Student Examples

Student Examples