In all of my travels across Western Europe, it was difficult to find an example of art that did not involve some type of engineering. In fact, most famous works of art contain some amazing feat of engineering for the period. For example, the Duomo in Florence is famous for its dome created by Brunelleschi was also an engineering accomplishment, as it was the first to span over 300 feet in diameter. Likewise, it was equally difficult to find examples of engineering were not some form of art or architecture. In Germany we visited several churches and castles that showcased the newest engineering advancements, such as the arch and flying buttresses, and were also simply covered in works of art (paintings, sculptures, geometric designs, etc.).

What became obvious to me on this trip was that engineering and art have gone hand-in-hand for as far back as there has been civilization on this earth. Both art and engineering require a certain amount of creativity and experimentation that can be seen in a Caravaggio painting as well as a Roman aqueduct. One important period where both flourished was the Renaissance, and what better example of a person from that period than the true Renaissance Man, Leonardo Da Vinci, who has worked extensively in both fields. And although the more recent art forms have less and less aspects of engineering included in the creation of the works, engineers have created many of the tools and mediums for the artists to work in, including graphics and other electronic art. One thing I learned from this trip is that I would not ever want to have one without the other.