Final answer:
Establishing equal or appropriate proportions to create symmetry in a composition results in balance and symmetry. Symmetry can be bilateral, as often seen in classical artwork, or asymmetrical, like in the Greek sculpture Doryphoros. Symmetry is also an important principle observed in nature and scientific research.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you establish equal or appropriate proportions to create symmetry, you establish a sense of balance and symmetry in the composition. In the arts, proportion refers to the size relationship of the parts of a body or form to one another, as well as to the whole. Symmetrical balance, like the one observed in Perugino's painting, 'Christ Giving the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter', results in a composition that feels balanced, calm, and stable.
Symmetry does not always have to be perfect to create balance. Asymmetrical balance, which can also convey a sense of balance without exact mirroring, is exemplified by the Classical Greek sculpture Doryphoros by Polykleitos. The sculpture achieves balance through the positioning and tension of different body parts, a technique known as contrapposto.
In nature, symmetry is also prevalent and can be seen in organisms, with some capable of producing equal halves if cut along a certain plane, indicative of bilateral or radial symmetry. Symmetry's importance extends to even broader scopes, such as in scientific research at facilities like CERN's Large Hadron Collider, emphasizing its universal relevance.