The Renaissance Man
Leonardo Da Vinci the Quintessential Renaissance Man
Leonardo Da Vinci is primarily recognized for his artworks, particularly the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper.
However, his expertise extended beyond art. He was multi-disciplinary, with knowledge in various fields such as anatomy, architecture, engineering, botany, mathematics, and science.
He gained his understanding of anatomy through observing live animals and humans, as well as dissecting cadavers. He applied the mathematical concept of the golden ratio in his artwork.
Leonardo had very little formal education, but despite that, he attained outstanding feats. Walter Isaacson, in his book Leonardo da Vinci, elaborates further on Leonardo’s astuteness and artistry in this quote below.
“Leonardo had almost no schooling and could barely read Latin or do long division. His genius was of the type we can understand, even take lessons from. It was based on skills we can aspire to improve in ourselves, such as curiosity and intense observation. He had an imagination so excitable that it flirted with the edges of fantasy, which is also something we can try to preserve in ourselves and indulge in our children.”
― Walter Isaacson, Leonardo da Vinci
The Importance of Curiousity
Da Vinci’s ability to replicate the effects of nature in his art were a result of his curiosity, and observation skills. He wrote down and sketched his observations in his notebooks.
This explains why he had such unmatched prowess. Leonardo da Vinci would pose questions in nature like “why do birds fly” this is a scientific approach to thinking.He dissected so many corpses that he developed an understanding of human anatomy, which he applied in his artwork.
Curiousity seems to be the demarcation that distinguishes producers from consumers. To really accomplish great things you need a combination of inquisitivity and focus. Leonardo Da Vinci was detail oriented that is what made him a profound painter,sculptor, inventor, architect, and engineer.
Genius is Far More Common Than We Think
To truly become a renaissance man or woman, you must be exploratory, embrace your inner child that was not bound by limitations imposed by others. John Taylor Gatto an author and school-teacher believed that genius was repressed because society inability to manage the educated populace.
“I’ve concluded that genius is as common as dirt. We suppress genius because we haven’t yet figured out how to manage a population of educated men and women. The solution, I think, is simple and glorious. Let them manage themselves.”
―John Taylor Gatto,
So it is up to you, to take responsibility with your learning and to allow your self to explore with an open-mind.
We Must Embrace the Process
In order to learn new things, we must go out of our comfort zone. We must embrace uncertainity and not search for novelty. We must work slightly above are limits and not too exceedingly because this will lead to self-doubt and possibly quiting.
In George Leonard’s book “Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment” he say not focus on external accolades when it comes to our goals but the journey it’s self, in this quote “Perhaps we’ll never know how far the path can go, how much a human being can truly achieve, until we realize that the ultimate reward is not a gold medal but the path itself”(George Leonard, Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment).
It is important to focus on the process this is more conducive, so that you get acclimatized to being out of your comfort zone.
Conclusion
In the 21st century, the journey toward becoming a Renaissance man or woman is both challenging and rewarding. It involves shifting our mindset from viewing education as a means to an end to embracing it as a lifelong voyage of exploration.
Stepping out of our comfort zones, embracing uncertainty, and focusing on the process — rather than the outcome — are essential. As we navigate the Fourth Industrial Revolution, lifelong learning becomes our key to thriving in an ever-changing world.
Leonardo da Vinci wisely observed,“People of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and made things happen.” This quote emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and determining your own path.
So, go out there and make things happen!