20th April 2011, 6:30pm
Looking mathematically at English Decorated window tracery, Hugh Williams
Abstract
The tracery (stonework) of mediaeval Decorated windows (c. 1250 – 1350) may not seem an obvious area for mathematical exploration but the speaker has been doing that on and off for over 20 years and will share some of his discoveries in this illustrated lecture. The topics cover will include:
The names that are used today for styles (e.g. Geometric, Intersecting and Reticulated) are 19th century inventions and not well defined as often a single image is used try to define a style. Classification rules using only visual properties, not metric ones, will be introduced and how they lead to an understanding of the geometry needed for construction and the design constraints on the architects.
Qualitatively it appeared likely that in some windows of the Flowing style what appear at first sight to be simple circular arcs must change radius at some point. In the 1990s no method could be found to crack this problem but with the advent of digital cameras and using the children’s programming language LOGO this query was sorted out and other interesting results discovered.
The problems involved in having ruler and compasses constructions will be reviewed.
Venue: The Axis, 10 Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TF
No charge is made to attend meetings and non-members are welcome.
