Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the extremely famous and truly adored leaders in Renaissance. He studied mathematics, science, art, engineering, anatomy, architecture and nature. Da Vinci was a complete and total Renaissance man.
EARLY LIFE
Leonardo Da Vinci was born on April, 15, 1452 and died on May, 2, 1519 at the age of 67. Da Vinci was born in a small town tucked in the middle of Tuscany. Although, growing up, he lived in Vinci, Tuscany. He went through a decent and average education while becoming the universal genius that he was.
At the age of fourteen he began his apprenticeship with Andrea Del Verrocho in Florence, Italy. One of his first famous sketches known to historians showed a beautiful landscape of Arno Valley. The masterpiece was drawn in 1473. Later Da Vinci wrote a letter to Lerenzo de’ Medici asking for employment. After a response, Da Vinci moved to Milan where de’ Medici lived, and also where he stayed for seventeen years. While working for the Medici family, the 1480’s, he studied human anatomy and animal bodies. The ingenious man wrote some of the first anatomic records known to man. Most of Da Vinci money was earned by commission. Although, some of his project were left deserted without the money.
Leonardo Da Vinci was interesting man who thought differently than anyone else. Da Vinci didn’t see the line between math, science and art. For example, he said “Studying mathematics and science helps me improve in art.’’ I infer that he meant that studying anatomy helps him improve in drawing the body. Also, the artist drew from loose papers tucked under his belt buckle and pockets. Da Vinci thought differently than the rest of society, like many artists do, but with that unique thinking comes creativity and great passion.
PAINTINGS
Leonardo Da Vinci did many things during his lifetime, and his diversity of paintings proves that. One of his many paintings, “Virgin on the Rocks.” In 1483, while he lived in Milan, he painted the masterpiece. Many think that the contrast colors between the light and dark figures make them look three dimensional.
Another masterpiece that Da Vinci cerated was “Last Supper.” The beautiful painting took three whole years to make, from 1495 through 1498. With that time, he created one of the most well known paintings in the Renaissance. It portrayed the Last Supper and Passover. It shows the reactions of Jesus’s twelve decibels when Christ tells them that he would die in the three days to come. It was a freaking masterpiece.
Another one of Da Vinci magnificent works was the “Vitruvian Man.” It was a fairly small sketch from one of his many drawing journals. It was sketched at around 1490 and described the proportions of the so called, “Perfect Man.” The drawing fits into a square and a circle, that aspect of the sketch has geometry because it has to do with the ideal architecture of a man. The sketch is known all over the world.
Leonardo Da Vinci created many masterpieces but one of the most well known as the “Mona Lisa.” It was painted 1503. The composition portrays a middle aged woman holding a melancholy smile on her face, sitting for a half portrait. One of the great mysteries of art history includes the “Mona Lisa.” Plenty of the human race craves knowledge of who sat for the portrait. Research has shown that a common suspect was the princess at Isabella of Naples because her facial expressions resembles the painting. Others think the sitter was Leonardo mother. Another possibility and frankly my favorite, was the male apprentice of Da Vinci’s dressed as the opposite gender. They think this because of the sitter’s masculine features. The last suspect was rather interesting. The Gioconda woman, a wealthy wife of a merchant, is our last suspect. This is thought because Gioconda is the Italian word for “Mona Lisa.” Also, people think this because the composition was painted during the time when the Gioconda woman bore a child. This little detail is important because since she was pregnant, the features of the painting make sense. No one knows who really was the sitter for this amazing painting but I would dearly like to know. Overall, the “Mona Lisa” is a perfect portrayal of a melancholy woman.
LATER LIFE
Da Vinci’s life began to evolve when the year turned 1500 through 1515. For example, at around 1503, Da Vinci became a military engineer for a brief time. He designed battle plans, weapons, and he had loads more responsibilities. In 1506 Da Vinci grew bored of his new career and traveled to Milan and moved there. While living in his old home, he worked for the french rulers. The moved once again, to Rome and had to assistance working at his side, as he studied mathematics and participated in scientific investigations and explorations. After sitting in on a royal meeting, Da Vinci was repositioned into “Premier Painter and Engineer to the king” by king Francis I in 1505. He stood this post for four years.
After his long life of a diversity of accomplishments, Leonardo Da Vinci died at the age of 67 on May 2nd, 1519. Leonardo Da Vinci was an amazing artist, scientist, mathematics, architect, inventor, draftsman, and engineer. Leonardo Da Vinci was “The Renaissance man.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- biography.com- Leonardo Da Vinci biography- Writers of biography.com March 26, 2016
