Reviewed and Updated: October 19, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Do you love Leonardo Da Vinci and his works? You can show that admiration by getting a Vitruvian man tattoo, one of his most famous works!
Leonardo Da Vinci, an Italian polymath, was a High Renaissance man.
His paintings, such as Vitruvian Man, are a perfect example of the fusion of his skills as a scientist, engineer and painter. Although Leonardo Da Vinci was born in the 15th century, his works have achieved immortality and remain as popular today as ever.
Some of his famous paintings are Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and Vitruvian Man. Did you know that many people theorize that Jesus is the Vitruvian man? Jesus nailed to the cross is the usual image, which is no surprise given that Da Vinci painted the perfectly proportioned body with mathematical precision. The original Vitruvian Man painting shows a prostrate man with four arms and four legs in some geometric shapes. Da Vinci painted this to illustrate the principles of Vitruvius, a Roman architect.
David in the form of Vitruvian Man Tattoo
For lovers of Renaissance art, this tattoo is a real treat. It pays homage to some of the greatest artists of all time, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci. Michelangelo’s sculpture David is reinterpreted as a Vitruvian man in a tattoo. Contrary to the perfect proportions of the human body in the original painting, this tattoo has a slightly asymmetrical shape. In the background you can see a geometric circle with different phases of the moon as a unit of measurement.
The statue of David is the perfect complement to traditional Vitruvian man tattoo designs. David is the symbol of strength and independence, in keeping with the idea of Vitruvian man attempting to explain a metaphysical phenomenon through precise mathematical precision.
Overlapping Proportions Vitruvian Man Tattoo
An interesting abstract twist on the same classic attitude is the aesthetic value of this tattoo. In the piece we can see half the Vitruvian man. The Vitruvian Man appears as if painted over Da Vinci’s face. A wing-like structure can be seen above between various geometric shapes. There are lines around the tattoo that look like axis lines. It’s like the artist and the art become one.
This tattoo can become a great half sleeve tattoo. For the same reason such a piece with intricate details takes time. So make sure you book an appointment and have no commitments for the day.
Look inside yourself Vitruvian Man Tattoo
Among Vitruvian man tattoo designs, we are fascinated by the meaning of this tattoo. The Vitruvian Man looks like an angel with wings. His body appears shifted into small slides. Below is a skull split in half, while above is a realistic depiction of a heart along with an eye. At either end of the heart, two balls complete the tattoo. This Vitruvian men tattoo goes well with shades of gray and adds depth by applying shadows and highlight effects to the tattoo.
The message behind this body art seems to urge everyone to look deep into their heart to find their connection to the universe that goes beyond the mere mask of a face or a skull. In addition, an eye is a very common symbol for clairvoyance or as a way into the soul. So, this tattoo challenges one to find inner harmony with the universe.
Organic Vitruvian Man Tattoo
While staying true to the original symbolism, this tattoo adds its interpretation to the mix. Back tattoos always look stunning, and this piece is no different. The Vitruvian Man consists of both a square and a circle. He appears to be floating underwater surrounded by nature and what appears to be a puff of air covering the man.
Leonardo Da Vinci was trying to find an answer to a question that would cause turmoil in history. The square seen is considered part of the four elements of nature, while the circle represents the spherical dome of heaven. Da Vinci attempted to metaphorically depict the squaring of a circle, using the human body as the plane for both forms. These ideas are driven home by showing human anatomy in harmony with the rest of the world.
Hummingbird as the Vitruvian man tattoo
In this Vitruvian Man Tattoo on thigh, the man is replaced by a bird i.e. a small hummingbird. The drawing of the bird is presented in the same pose as the man’s body. A palm tree is featured in a circular structure at one end, while a dragonfly is featured at the other end. Running through the bird’s head appears to be a planetary arrangement.
By changing the focus from a human body to that of a bird, the connection with the organic part of the universe is emphasized. The meaning changes when the industrious hummingbird becomes the representative of the connection. Additionally, dragonflies are a motif of peace and tranquility, reminding the tattooed one to find their inner balance with the outside world.
The ghost has a body tattoo
This beautiful image shows how a person can combine the love of a Renaissance tattoo with what you are passionate about. The tattoo covers one side of the entire body. A face can be cut in half without skin. Binary codes pop on both sides of the head. In the center, a Vitruvian man appears to emerge from the fissure, while a human heart can be seen at the corner.
This tattoo belongs to a cardiac surgeon who also studies neurological UTIs extensively. The tattoo uses the art to commemorate that. Besides, it can also symbolize how man is composed of both his spirit and his body.
Vitruvian Man tattoo sleeve
The picture shows a drawing over the entire forearm. The man in this Vitruvian man tattoo has been nailed to perfection bringing life to the drawing. In terms of style, it’s just like Leonardo Da Vinci’s. However, through the skillful use of shadow and highlighting tricks, the tattoo acquires a three-dimensional effect. Part of the body is missing, revealing various geometric shapes as if they were present inside the body. Doodles as found in the original drawing are also observed. Finally, various phases of the moon fill the floor with some other charts.
The knowledge of the entire universe could be solved with mathematical calculations; That is the meaning this Vitruvian man tattoo is trying to convey. The phases of the moon take these ideas to the cosmic level and drive the message home.
Lost and Found Vitruvian Man Tattoo
The Renaissance period championed art like no other, and this drawing is sure to celebrate that. As with many works of art, many ideas can be juxtaposed in the piece. There’s Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, along with Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, complete with a measuring scale and an eye.
The drawing shows how the first man, Adam, fell out of the Garden of Eden. The quiet majesty of the figure of God within a skull, or rather the brain of the human spirit, adds a captivating creative touch. On the other hand, the scales seem to weigh the heart against the brain while one eye surveys everything. This tattoo signifies finding the balance between heart and head to find inner harmony in a person. It’s about a man finding his way after falling from Eden.
Darth Vader Style Vitruvian Man Tattoo
It’s your time to shine for all the Star Wars geeks out there. Here is a fun and quirky take on the same Vitruvian man tattoo ideas. Instead of the unknown man from the original work, the drawing features Darth Vader himself, in the geometric style of the painting.
The Vitruvian man tattoo is done in a sketch style so that pencil lines appear like a drawing. Since this is a medium sized tattoo, you can also turn it into a Vitruvian Man tattoo on the thigh if you are not very comfortable with an obvious spot like the arm.
Classic Vitruvian Man Tattoo
With the man in the middle, all phases of the moon arrange themselves in a circle around the Vitruvian man tattoo. The conceptual art also consists of what appears to be a prismatic composition of geometric shapes. A thick black line can be seen which could be Morse code just like the binary code is also present in the tattoo. Two islands and a lifelike eye can be seen on the skin surface.
Nailing features like the eye is always difficult so make sure you find the best artist for this tattoo. This can be a great cover up tattoo for a good arm length.
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man fitted perfectly with Renaissance philosophy and gave the painting the momentum it deserved. The painting was intended to show the human anatomy’s connection with everything in the universe. This was certainly a major boost to the zeal of Renaissance humanism, which placed more emphasis on human intellect than religious strength.
When it comes to paintings, we are only limited by our imagination. So we couldn’t resist sharing a few more unique Vitruvian Man tattoo ideas.
- Geometric Vitruvian Man Tattoo.
- Vitruvian man dissected in middle tattoo.
- A demon as a Vitruvian man tattoo.
- Vitruvian man eye tattoo.
- A psychedelic Vitruvian male tattoo.
Featured image from Pinterest