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Both drawings are depictions of a passage written 1,500 years earlier by Vitruvius, an ancient Roman architect, in which he describes a man's body fitting perfectly inside a circle (the divine symbol) and inside a square (the earthly symbol). It was a geometric interpretation of the ancient belief that man is a "microcosm": a miniature embodiment of the whole universe. Leonardo and other scholars revived this vainglorious notion during the Italian Renaissance.

"Vainglorious?" What is "vainglorious" about the idea that man is microcosm, which dates back to Vitruvius, an idea endorsed and carried forward by Plato and revived during the Italian Renaissance?

What does the author want us to take away from the fact that Leonardo and his friend Giacomo Andrea were both working on a geometric interpretation of Vitruvius' insight? That if Giacomo Andrea drew his "first," then Leonardo was "cribbing," guilty of plagiarism?

I do not understand the "aim" of this article.

Anyhoot, it should be clear that Leonardo's rendition is clearly the superior work. So what's the problem?

Thanks so much for posting, presidio9!

Anyhoot, it should be clear that Leonardo's rendition is clearly the superior work. So what's the problem?

Indeed. Thank you for sharing your insights, dearest sister in Christ!

I thought Lincoln doodled that on the back of an envelope during a train ride.