Leonardo's Spatial Grammar: A CAD Reverse-Engineering Analysis Corpus: Leonardo's CAD, Leonardo's Rulers, Leonardo's Score

A groundbreaking analysis deconstructs the myth of Leonardo da Vinci's rigid adherence to Albertian square-based perspective, revealing instead a dynamic, metric-modular spatial grammar that evolves across his works. Through three-dimensional CAD reverse-engineering and geometric analysis of 'The Annunciation,' 'Adoration of the Magi,' and 'The Last Supper,' researchers demonstrate how Leonardo developed a system of 'inserted rulers'—a rhythmic, stereometric architecture rooted in human measurements. This approach rejects esoteric interpretations, showing that spatial proportions (e.g., 4:3 module, 1:4:1 and 2:1:2 polyphonic rhythms) are directly derivable from the artwork itself, yielding spaces that are not only measurable but architecturally reconstructible. The study underscores Leonardo's innovative integration of perspective, narrative, and human-scale design, redefining his spatial syntax as a projective, adaptive system.

De Leo, G. (2026). Leonardo's Spatial Grammar: A CAD Reverse-Engineering Analysis Corpus: Leonardo's CAD, Leonardo's Rulers, Leonardo's Score. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.20578822