Architecture, Mathematics and Theology in Raphael’s Paintings

Abstract

This subject belongs, one may say, to the prehistory of descriptive and projective geometry: it is part of our modern discovery of space. Three times a civilisation has made such an investigation: in ancient Egypt, in Antiquity, and in modern times, where perhaps we should speak of space-time. And each time, not only science, but also the arts participated in this endeavour. This present contribution is devoted to two mathematical, that is, geometric, discoveries made in 1503 and 1504, and presented in two famous paintings by Raphael: L’incoronazione della Madonna and Lo Sposalizio. We find architecture, mathematics and theology closely intertwined in a way that is deeply characteristic for this artist, whom we can see here also as a great scientist. It appears that the L’incoronazione della Madonna is the first painting in which a structure in a non-frontal position, the sarcophagus of the Madonna, is constructed rigorously. The author attempts to explain how Raphael did it.

First published as: David Speiser , “Architecture, Mathematics and Theology in Raphael’s Paintings”, pp. 147–156 in Nexus III: Architecture and Mathematics, ed. Kim Williams, Ospedaletto (Pisa): Pacini Editore, 2000.