He is often referred to as the genius of an era that bridged authoritarian ignorance and the modern Western world. Painting, sculpture, architecture, invention, anatomy, music, and literature were all intertwined with this most famous representative of Renaissance art, a man who took a monumental leap into the future.
Biography and Interesting Facts About Leonardo da Vinci
The future genius was born on April 15, 1452, near Florence in the small town of Vinci. His father, a wealthy notary named Piero, was unable to marry the boy’s mother, who was a common peasant. When the child was three years old, his father decided to adopt him and bring him into his family, as his legal wife could not bear children.
Shortly thereafter, young Leonardo began learning various crafts in the workshop of Andrea Verrocchio, to whom his father had sent him. There, the boy learned to paint, sculpt, tan leather, work with metals, and delve into many different sciences. The master recognized Leonardo’s exceptional talent and, upon completing his training, kept him on as an apprentice.
In 1482, the young man was sent to Milan to serve Duke Ludovico Sforza, who needed defensive structures and entertainment devices for his court. Leonardo excelled in these tasks, earning the duke’s considerable favor. Overall, he spent 17 years of his life in service there. It was during this youthful period that Leonardo created many paintings and sculptures and produced numerous anatomical sketches. He planned to design machines that could travel on land, swim underwater, and fly through the skies.
The house where Leonardo lived as a child
Eventually, he returned to Florence, where he served for seven years at the court of Cesare Borgia, who was interested in creating war machines for victorious campaigns.
In the following years, Leonardo lived in Milan. By this time, he was already the author of the world-renowned “Mona Lisa.” His Milanese period lasted six years, after which the artist moved to Rome. Throughout this time, he continued to paint, work on scientific treatises, and develop various devices.
Three years before his death, Leonardo da Vinci moved to France, accompanied by his talented student Francesco Melzi.
The great Florentine passed away on May 2, 1519, at the age of 67. Researchers suggest that the cause of death was a stroke, as in the last years of his life, da Vinci was partially paralyzed. He could not move independently or care for himself, relying on his student Francesco for assistance.
According to his will, Leonardo was buried in the Church of Saint-Florentin. Unfortunately, during the Huguenot Wars, his grave was destroyed, and now, 500 years later, scientists are trying to identify his remains.
The Death of Leonardo da Vinci. Joseph-Théodore Rhigom after Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, (circa 1825)
Each work of the genius is thoroughly studied by specialists from various fields. Many believe that Leonardo embedded a unique graphic code in his works. The mystery of the Mona Lisa’s smile has puzzled researchers for centuries. To date, 570 pages of his diary have been digitized. Books are written about Leonardo, films are made, and his secrets continue to be explored, while the genius’s quotes remain relevant even today.
Short Interesting Facts About Da Vinci’s Life
- He did not have a surname – “da Vinci” referred to the town where he was born;
- Leonardo had virtually no formal education – he taught himself Latin and only began studying mathematics after the age of 30;
- He painted very few works – despite his fame as an artist, only 17 paintings are definitively attributed to him today;
- His first painting was created at the age of 15;
- His anatomical drawings still hold significant scientific value;
- During his lifetime, da Vinci kept many notebooks, one of which is owned by Bill Gates;
- The artist was ambidextrous, skillfully using both his left and right hands;
- All entries in his diary were written in mirror image, from right to left.
Leonardo da Vinci: Timeless Paintings
Leonardo began practicing as an artist at the age of 20. After joining the artists’ guild in Florence, he became the owner of a studio by 1476. At that time, he did not devote enough attention to painting, and unfortunately, some of his works were lost. However, those that have survived to this day are regarded by contemporaries as icons of the genre. Many myths surround his work, as it is believed that da Vinci’s paintings contain a graphic code that has stumped generations of art historians.
The power of the talented Florentine’s creativity can be gleaned from the book “The Resurrected Gods: Leonardo da Vinci” by Dmitry Merezhkovsky, published in a religious magazine in 1900. The most famous paintings from his legacy include:
- The Virgin Mary. The uniqueness of the author lies in his refusal to adhere to the canonical depictions of Mary. His “Madonna Benois” and “Madonna Litta” are a kind of ode to joyful motherhood. The paintings contain many intriguing elements that reveal the daily life of women during that time.
- “Lady with an Ermine” – an extraordinarily beautiful portrait of a woman. It was created at the court of the Duke of Milan, depicting Cecilia Gallerani – the ruler’s favorite. Researchers point to the complex symbolism of the painting, suggesting that there may have been mutual affection between the woman and the artist.
- “The Last Supper” – a fresco painted on the wall of a monastery in Milan. The author depicted a scene from the Gospel where, during dinner with the apostles, one of them tells Christ that he will betray him. This painting has undergone numerous restorations.
- “The Adoration of the Magi” – one of the artist’s unfinished works. Its creation began in 1481 at the request of the residents of a monastery in Scopeto. Leonardo was unable to complete it as he moved to Milan around that time.
- “Mona Lisa” – the most famous masterpiece of world art, also known as “La Gioconda.” The smile of this woman is considered the greatest mystery of the Renaissance. Equally intriguing is the identity of the figure depicted in the painting. Many theories have been proposed, one of which even suggested it was a self-portrait of da Vinci. However, researchers concluded in 2005 that the portrait depicts Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant. Today, this and other portraits by the artist are housed in the Louvre behind bulletproof glass.
Other equally renowned paintings by da Vinci span different periods of his creativity. For instance, “The Annunciation” was painted early in his career, while the late-period work “Saint John the Baptist” is also well-known. The painting “Salvator Mundi” was long thought to be lost.
The Man Behind the Genius: The Theme of Proportions
Original drawings by da Vinci, created by hand with pencil, have also survived to this day. The most famous among them is the “Vitruvian Man” – an illustration for a book dedicated to the works of Vitruvius. It depicts a figure of a man positioned within a circle and a square.
This is the most perfect and ideal scientific work on the mathematical proportions of human anatomy. The so-called golden ratio of da Vinci is based on the relationship between the whole and its parts, where everything must be in equal proportions.
At the same time, this work can also be considered a masterpiece of art. It is often used as a universal symbol of human anatomical symmetry and the entire universe.
Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci
Artistic creativity is not the only field in which Leonardo da Vinci achieved eternal fame. He is also known as a brilliant engineer, researcher, and inventor for his time. His scientific legacy is incredibly diverse, as evidenced by the following facts:
- He was able to create a project for a metallurgical furnace and a rolling mill;
- He developed designs for a submarine, machine gun, parachute, helicopter, and bicycle;
- His flying machine was based on the principles of bird flight;
- Da Vinci provided a scientific explanation for why the Moon shines and why the sky is blue.
His drawings of a telescope with two lenses astonish modern observers with their extraordinary precision. He was also in demand as a military engineer. His inventions, such as lightweight portable bridges, wheel locks for pistols, and catapults, were utilized even in those times. Da Vinci also conceived the first tank in history.
He worked in urban planning and land reclamation as well. Thanks to him, the St. Christopher Canal was built. The development of London was carried out according to his design, which had been rejected by the Duke of Moro two centuries earlier.
Leonardo invented a diving suit, and in the 16th century, he created a mechanical lion – commissioned by the Pope to present as a gift to the King of France.
Such achievements of the remarkable Florentine did not go unnoticed by his successors: an innovative surgical complex was named in his honor – a device developed by NASA specialists. The “da Vinci” robot is now produced in series and used in medical centers around the world.
Sculptures of Leonardo da Vinci
Alongside painting and science, Leonardo was also interested in sculpture. He learned this craft, like everything else, from his first teacher during his childhood. Despite creating many statues for the park of Duke Ludovico Sforza in his youth, none of them have survived to this day. The only legacy that can be confidently attributed to da Vinci is a wax figure of a horse. On it was a figure of a warrior from the Renaissance era.
It stood about 30.5 cm tall and long and was created as a gift for Leonardo’s friend Charles d’Amboise. Judging by its size and the position of the animal, it was meant to be part of another sculpture. However, Leonardo did not live to see the time when this figure could be cast in metal, and after the sculptor’s death, it mysteriously disappeared. Eventually, the original was found, and the statuette became available to the public only in the 19th century.
Leonardo was a worthy son of his era. While he far surpassed it in his development, his ideas and inventions became harbingers of humanity’s rapid advancement. This is the most significant testament to his genius.