CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: B - Vitruvian Man was inspired by the writings of the Roman architect Vitruvius, who described the human form as the standard for proportions in orders of architecture. Da Vinci read Vitruvius’ work and was compelled to draw the perfectly proportioned male figure. He spent a lot of time perfecting the aesthetic of human anatomy in his art, which was also an interest shared by his contemporaries. However, da Vinci’s interest in the subject was much more involved. Many of the sketches from his anatomical studies have survived, some of which were based on autopsies he conducted to better understand internal anatomy.