Sacred Geometry in Art History: Divine Creativity

Mathematical expression has been a core element of art since its earliest days, with an enduring inspiration that some might suggest was divine. Sacred geometry has inspired artists and designers for generations, from the precise placement of ancient sanctuaries to the anatomical accuracies of Renaissance revolutionaries. Across these eras, sacred geometry has aligned aesthetics and spirituality to conjure some of the most striking works of art. Read on as we explore the principles behind sacred geometry and highlight some memorable examples that relied upon it.

Sacred Geometry Explained

Sacred geometry derives from the premise that there are universal patterns existing in nature that bear spiritual resonance thanks to this cosmic connection. Shared across cultures and creative disciplines, sacred geometry builds upon elements as simple as the circle or square as indicative of universal themes such as balance, longevity, and more. It can also refer to more complex iterations such as the Golden Ratio. 

This relationship between two entities is established when their ratio equals that of the sum of those two elements to the larger of the elements. For example, imagine three squares with 13 units, 8 units, and 5 units, respectively. The ratio of the first two squares (8:5) equals roughly 1.6, the same result occurs when the two smaller squares are added together and the ratio is once again established (5+8 = 13, resulting in a ratio of 13:8, or approximately 1.6).

This golden relationship resonates through nature and can be used to balance artistic or architectural compositions. Numerous examples of this ratio in action along with more general use of sacred geometry can be found throughout history. Keep reading to explore some of the best examples from the past.

Sacred Geometry in Antiquity

Ancient cultures relied upon sacred geometry throughout their designs. The ancient Egyptian design for the Great Pyramids at Giza, for example, incorporated the Golden Ratio between the slant of each face and the base of the pyramid. In addition, each pyramid’s base was aligned precisely with the points on a compass. An aerial view of these pyramids showcase some of this precision and also highlights a specific spacing between each structure that has led some to hypothesize that the three massive tombs align with the celestial placement of the stars within Orion – specifically those of the constellation’s belt – to perhaps further a design connection with the cosmos.

The Greeks similarly employed sacred geometry in their art and architecture. The Parthenon, considered one of the peak moments in Greek architectural history, was crafted by Athenian architects Ikitnos and Kallikrates with the support of the Golden Ratio to refine the temple’s appearance and underscore its overall structural harmony. In the same generation, sculptors like Polykleitos endeavored to define the same harmony in bodily representations. In his works, like the Doryphoros (Spear Bearer), known today only through later Roman copies, Polykleitos invoked his ideal canon of proportions in which each part of the human body was mathematically in concordance with the others.

Sacred Geometry in the 1st Through 14th Centuries

Over time  other cultural centers began to similarly incorporate this geometric genius. Even the earliest Buddhist mandalas conjured in the 1st century BCE were constructed of geometric components, traditions that endured for many years to follow. Islamic architecture emerging in the 6th century CE also invoked this geometry in the richly patterned, quasi-crystalline motifs that comprised many of their brilliant mosaics. These patterns reached a pinnacle in palaces like the Alhambra, built in Granada, Spain during the 13th-14th century. Between the arabesque patterns, tantalizing tessellations of tile mosaic, and the use of muqarnas domes in chambers like the Court of the Lions that mesmerized with their tiered repetitive arches throughout the palace’s interior, the Alhambra showcased the marvels possible with the use of such mathematical precision.

Almost concurrently Christian art and architecture also began to rely on these sacred shapes to cultivate harmonious creations in line with the universe. Repetitive patterns made their way into Gothic-era stained glass, like the western rose window of Chartres Cathedral. Moreover, the vesica piscis, an ovoid shape formed by the intersection of two circles, became a unifying principle across creative disciplines. One of the most common applications of this form was that of the mandorla, or body halo, that was used to accentuate the figure of Christ from 13th-century champlevé book covers to 17th-century Greek icons.

The 15th Through 19th Centuries

The use of sacred geometry accelerated in the 15th century across Europe as artists renewed their interest in appealing visual symbolism. One of the biggest advocates for such sacred geometry was Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, whose Vitruvian Man (c. 1490) is perhaps the best example of this geometry in use. The relationship between the male figure and his enclosing circle and square in this work reflects Leonardo’s study of Vitruvius, an ancient writer whose work proved highly influential in the period. This work also demonstrates his fascination with the Golden Ratio, a proportional system he applied to many of his paintings, including The Last Supper (1495).

Of the same generation was German artist Albrecht Dürer, whose precise compositional technique required exceptional skill with sacred geometry. Indeed, so attentive was Dürer to these themes that he wrote an extended text on the topic that was published posthumously under the title, Four Books on Human Proportion (1532-1534). Dürer revealed this meticulousness in prints like Melancholia I (1514), which depicts a symbolic portrait of the artist trapped within his own genius. From the prism-like spray of light that recalls mathematical rays along the arc in the upper left to the forms of the circle and dodecahedron that stand prominently in the print’s fore- and midground, respectively, Dürer here successfully used the language of sacred geometry to serve as a conduit for self-reflection.

Artists and architects of the 17th century continued to experiment with sacred geometry to push the boundaries of contemporary design. One of the most indicative examples of this innovation was Francesco Borromini’s design for the Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome. Founding the church’s footprint in the form of the triangle – significant both as a symbol of the Holy Trinity and as a reflection of his patrons from the religious Order of the Trinitarians – Borromini created an oval-shaped sanctuary and matching dome that also invoked the previously-mentioned power of the vesica piscis. 

The same compositional harmony was witnessed in the 19th-century Neoclassical sculpture of Antonio Canova. Celebrating the return to Classical principles that had defined artistic excellence generations prior, Canova’s creations, like Theseus Defeating the Centaur (1805-1807) embodied elements like the Golden Ratio to exude a sense of harmonious balance in the cascade of figures that seem to be frozen in combat. So acclaimed was Canova’s use of this principle that it became the source of study for other artists like Pietro Bonato, who transformed the marble Theseus into print.  

Eternally Golden: Sacred Geometry in Modern and Contemporary Times

More recent applications across modern art and design reveal the timeless application of sacred geometry. In the early 20th-century era of abstraction, including Wassily Kandinsky’s paintings such as Deepened Impulse (before 1928) and Kazimir Malevich’s works like Black Circle (1915), simplified geometric forms like the circle took on new importance to celebrate the spiritual potential of purified designs. Concurrently, graphic illustrator M. C. Escher showcased the fascinating flair of tessellation in his works to conjure captivatingly continuous motifs.

These ideas of sacred geometry are still alive and well in our contemporary world from the professional artist’s studio to our everyday world. From the harmony seen in a graphic designer’s logo to the geometric cut of a fashion designer’s new line, these mathematical principles continue to connote a sense of balance and aesthetic pleasure for those who encounter them. These seemingly simple applications simultaneously recall the vast history of sacred geometry, which has united artists, architects, and designers across generations in a pursuit of proportionality that melds materiality and mysticism in marvelous ways.