What are some famous paintings that reveal the Golden Ratio was used to create them?
The conscious application of the Golden Ratio did not happen before the middle of the 19th century. One famous painting woould be Dalí’s Sacrament of the Last Supper, and several paintings by Piet Mondrian. A good overall introduction on the Golden Ratio can be found on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio.
Leonardo da Vinci personally illustrated a book by his friend in 1509. "De Divina Proportione" by Luca Pacioli explored the Golden Mean and is a reflection of how popular it was even in the late 1400s. Using a measuring caliper, one can study art and architecture from the Middle Ages back to Ancient Egypt. The Golden Mean, or "Phi", was clearly in use in every aspect of art and design, in virtually every culture. General Academia has yet to acknowledge this fact. Knowledge of the Divine Proportion is as ancient as anything known.
The design of Mona Lisa, for example, is a statement in geometry. All major details of this painting are intentionally in harmony. This is not an accident. Once one is able to RECOGNIZE the INTENT of the artist/architect we are then able to read the language of harmony. Egyptian Hieroglyphs are an example of this. So also are many modern artists from impressionists to today, using the Golden Mean to establish key zones of focus, key areas of interest. Graphic design using the proportion in every way. Not just the shapes of letterforms, but the dimensions of a credit card, a computer screen, logos… automobile design… you name it! It’s one of the worlds’ best kept secrets! Ask the Freemasons!
