Dentist Unveils New Insight into Iconic Da Vinci Image

A London-based dentist may have finally cracked a 500-year-old mystery embedded in Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic “Vitruvian Man”.

Dr Rory Mac Sweeney’s research, recently published in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts, reveals that the sketch contains a geometric structure – an equilateral triangle – linked to principles in modern dental anatomy.

Da Vinci’s 1490 drawing, based on the writings of the Roman architect Vitruvius, portrays the ideal human form within a circle and a square. While many have speculated over the centuries on the underlying proportions, Mac Sweeney argues that a subtle triangle between the figure’s legs mirrors “Bonwill’s triangle,” a concept describing optimal jaw function.

The triangle helps explain the drawing’s key ratio – around 1.64 – which closely matches values seen in natural structures. This challenges longstanding theories that the legendary Italian scientist relied on the Golden Ratio.

“Leonardo’s geometric construction successfully encoded fundamental spatial relationships in human form,” Mac Sweeney said, suggesting the Renaissance master may have understood design principles that weren’t formally identified until centuries later.

The findings could reshape not only how the Vitruvian Man is interpreted but also how geometry and anatomy intersect in fields like dentistry and craniofacial surgery.

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