Visual Perception and Graphic Analysis. The Pattern of Inlays in the Cathedral of Palermo

Abstract

The Cathedral of Palermo is one of the monuments belonging to the Arab-Norman Itinerary, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015. This text uses geometric analysis to describe some of the inlaid circular designs from the eastern façade, the corner towers and the apses. The cataloguing of the two-tone geometric motifs also reveals aspects that can be linked back to the laws of visual perception. Hence, the text investigates these aspects based on a new reading. In fact, decomposing these elements based on the experience of their perception also facilitates the recognition of elementary figures. The attempt made in this brief text intends to induce a new perceptive awareness resulting from a more attentive and prolonged period of observation.