Publication of De divina proportione
- When
- 1498–1509
- Where
- Milan; Venice
- Episodes
- 2
Luca Pacioli's mathematical treatise, illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, was completed in Milan in 1498 and first printed in Venice on June 1, 1509, by Paganino Paganini.
Episodes
- Completion in Milan
Pacioli and Leonardo completed the manuscript in Milan by early 1498.
- Venice Publication
The first printed edition was released in Venice on June 1, 1509.
Background and detail
Background. The book, titled Divina proportione, was written by Luca Pacioli and illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo created the diagrams while living with Pacioli and taking mathematics lessons from him in Milan. The work was completed by February 9, 1498.
Publication. The first printed edition was published in Venice on June 1, 1509, by Paganino Paganini. The volume included approximately sixty woodcut illustrations based on Leonardo's drawings, alongside Pacioli's own geometric constructions. This edition has been reprinted multiple times since its initial release.
Impact. The clarity of Pacioli's text and the quality of Leonardo's diagrams allowed the book to reach audiences beyond mathematical circles. It successfully popularized contemporary geometric concepts and images, extending its influence into broader artistic and intellectual contexts.
People involved
- Luca Pacioli · Author
- Leonardo da Vinci · Illustrator
- Paganino Paganini · Publisher
Sources
- Divina proportione Wikipedia, revision of 2025-04-16
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.