Vitruvian Man

This new curriculum resource from CensusAtSchool is presented at two levels of difficulty. This idea is relatively current as it links with the 'Da Vinci code' and the theory of the Vitruvian man as put forward by Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519).

In 1492, Leonardo drew a picture of a man standing inside a circle and a square. This is known as the ‘Vitruvian Man’. It was a study of the proportions of the human body as described by Vitruvius, a Roman architect from the first century B.C. Based on his observations of European people of his day, Leonardo believed that in a perfectly proportioned body arm span was equal to height.

This resource poses a number of questions including “Is the Vitruvian theory that height is equal to arm span true for British students today?"

Level One is suitable for Key Stage Three and Four whilst Level Two is more suitable for Key Stage Four and Key Skills in the sixth form.