The Legacy of Leonardo da Vinci — the Epitome of the Renaissance Man
A look at the life of da Vinci and his artworks
Introduction:
Throughout history, various transformative artists emerged, forever changing the depiction and understanding of the nature of art. So enters the idealistic Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci, recognized as a painter, sculptor, architect, engineer and writer. A Renaissance Man defines the most accomplished individuals throughout history and is “bold, stern and always among the first (Castiglione 1528). Da Vinci embodies the notion of a Renaissance Man for his willingness towards scientific inquiries and creativity and is considered the founder of the High Renaissance. This article will shed light on da Vinci’s life and his most notable contributions to the history of art in the High Renaissance and beyond.
The Life of da Vinci:
Da Vinci was born in the town of Vinci, near Florence, in 1452. He trained in the studio of Andrea del Verrocchio and possessed unequalled talent at a young age. In 1482, da Vinci left Florence for Milan and worked for Ludovico Sforza, the duke of Milan. There, he earned financial stability and produced great works such as Madonna of the Rocks, which acted as the central panel of an altarpiece for the chapel of the Confraternity in San Francesco Grande.
After Milan, da Vinci left in the company of mathematician Lucas Pacioli and eventually settled in Florentine. There, he was appointed as an architectural expert and continued his studies in mathematics and painting. The second Florentine period was a time of scientific inquiry, in which da Vinci dissected at hospitals to gain a deeper understanding of the anatomical nature of the human body. Furthermore, he observed birds and studied the laws of currents, which eventually led to his famous book: the Codex Hammer. Interestingly, the book that contained scientific writings by da Vinci now belongs to Bill Gates, who auctioned the masterpiece for $30.8 million in 1994.
At the end of da Vinci’s life, he headed to Rome after political upheaval, driving him away from his home. That was a time of significant artistic innovations, with Donato Bramante building St.Peters, Raphael painting the last rooms of the pope’s residence, and Michaelangelo completing the tomb of Pope Julius II. However, da Vinci did not compose notable works during his time there. At the end of 1516, da Vinci left Italy altogether and spent his remaining years at the service of King Francis I in France. That would prove to be the last few years of da Vinci’s life, and he completed some sketches for the royalties.
Here is a look at some of the most remarkable works by da Vinci
The Last Supper:
-For Ludovico Sforza, church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan
-Jesus and his 12 disciples sat at a long table
-Jesus says: “One of you will betray me.”
-A scene of great drama, surprise, fear, anger and suspicion
-Judas, the betrayer, clutches his bags of coins, he is symbolic of darkness
-Linear perspective
-Rounded pediment over Jesus’s head symbolizes divinity and glory
Mona Lisa
-The world’s most famous portrait
-Oil on wood
-Portrays Lisa di Antonio Maria Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo
-Mona Lisa sits quietly, her hands folded, and her mouth forms a gentle smile
-She looks directly into the viewers, which is unprecedented
-Convincing and realistic representation of a specific individual
-Features atmospheric perspective and chiaroscuro
Scientific Drawings:
-As a man of science, da Vinci was also interested in botany, geology, geography, cartography, zoology, animal lore, anatomy, and various aspects of physical science.
-This is evident in his scientific drawings, which showcased a fascination of the human anatomy
-Scientific exploration empowered da Vinci to become a better artist. For example, his studies of optics provided him with a thorough understanding of perspective, light, and color.
-Though often, these works themselves represent brilliant artworks
“Knowledge of the past and of the places of the earth is the ornament and food of the mind of man. (Leonardo da Vinci)”
References
Castiglione, B. (1528). The Courtier.
Gardner, H., & Kleiner, F. S. (2016). Gardner’s Art through the ages: A global history (Fifteenth edition, Student edition. ed.). Cengage Learning.
Heydenreich, L. H. (n.d.). Leonardo da Vinci. Britannica. Retrieved October 31, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci
