Christopher Bartlett
Beyond the Golden ratio (Phi), a Mercury ratio (Chi)...?
Bartlett's meta-golden Chi or Mercury ratio is a unique mathematical constant related to the golden ratio and other metallic means.
One of the reasons this meta-golden Mercury ratio is a pleasing
number, with remarkable geometric properties similar to the golden
ratio, is that a rectangle of width 1 and a length of chi can be
divided into a rectangle proportional to the original rectangle and a
golden ratio rectangle. Recall the golden rectangle divides into a
square and a golden rectangle.
The precise ratio for the Mercury or Chi rectangle is
1+√(4phi+5)/(2phi) or approximately 1.355…
This painting is a practical application of the meta-golden
Mercury or Chi ratio rectangle. Its composition is constructed
using an armature that yields golden ratio divisions, consequent
squares and χ-ratio rectangles.
The more compact aspect ratio of this rectangle presents an
appealing contemporary shape for art and design with the same
generative properties as the golden rectangle itself.