Leonardo and Vitruvio: "de homine bene figurato”

Abstract

The essay deals philologically with the text that accompanies the drawing of the socalled “Vitruvian Man” (Venice, Gallerie dell’Accademia, f. 228). The essay re-proposes the critical text published in 2019 and provides new evidence regarding the Vitruvian codices from which the textual (contradictory) and graphic choises of Leonardo’s sheet are well undestood. A new hypotesis is formulated regarding the occasion for the drawing which bears a striking discrepancy with the most important of the proportions of the homo bene figurato of the De architectura (the foot of the man with harmonious limbs is non equal to 1/6 of the height total, but 1/7). At the same time, the reason why the diversity depends on a codex and not on Leonardo’s desire to correct Vitruvius is argued.