Leonardo da Vinci: Facts, Paintings & Inventions
One of the greatest artists, sculptors, and polymaths in history, Leonardo da Vinci was a prominent figure in the Italian Renaissance and one of the most creative brains of all time. His innovations in art had a great impact on the work of his successors. Some of da Vinci’s notable masterpieces include Mona Lisa, Last Supper, The Virgin of the Rocks, The Vitruvian Man, etc.
Life of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci, (Italian: “Leonardo from Vinci”) was born on April 15, 1452, in Anchiano, near Vinci, Republic of Florence. Leonardo was raised on the estate of his father's family as a legitimate son. His father appreciated his artistic talent and apprenticed him at around age 15 to the noted sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio of Florence.
Leonardo was most renowned for his dramatic and expressive paintings; However, Leonardo conceptualized several ideas and innovations such as the helicopter, the parachute, etc., and produced several precise maps, mill designs, and other innovations that were decades ahead of their time.
Masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci
The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa or La Gioconda, da Vinci’s famous oil-on-wood painting, is currently owned by the French government and is displayed on the wall of the Louvre in Paris. The artwork is an example of Leonardo da Vinci's sfumato method, which is based on the application of glazes to produce a "smoky" impression with delicate contrasts and shapes.
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The Last Supper
The Last Supper is Leonardo's artistic depiction of a historical occasion described in all four Gospels. It is currently housed at Santa Maria Delle Grazie church in Italy. Contrary to frescos, this painting was created using experimental paints straight on the dry plaster wall. As a result, it has not remained consistent over the years.
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The Vitruvian Man
This pen and ink artwork on paper, currently housed at the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, shows a male figure in two superimposed poses with his arms and legs spread and simultaneously drawn in a circle and square.
Salvator Mundi
It is one of the 21st century's most contentious paintings. The 26-inch ominous oil-on-panel painting shows a half-length figure of Jesus as the Saviour of the World, standing with his face to the viewer and wearing Renaissance-era attire. According to reports, the painting's current location is unknown.
Self Portrait
Although Leonardo da Vinci painted many self-portraits of himself, his self-portrait in Red Chalk is the most well-known of all his works, which was painted in 1512 using red chalk. It is currently housed in Turin's famous Biblioteca Reale.
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Virgin and Child with St. Anne by Leonardo da Vinci depicts the mother and child in close proximity, illustrating the close relationship Mary and the infant Jesus shared with St. Anne. The painting is currently kept at the Louvre Museum in France.
Explore the Louvre CollectionScientific Studies and Inventions by Leonardo da Vinci
Anatomy
Leonardo da Vinci developed a passion for topographic anatomy and drew countless studies of muscles, tendons, and other observable anatomical characteristics. He also researched the human body's interior organs, and he was the first to depict the human appendix, urinary tract, lungs, reproductive organs, mesentery, cervix muscles, and a precise cross-section of coitus.
Engineering
Leonardo was respected as an engineer both during and after his lifetime. He spent a large portion of his life fascinated with the phenomenon of flight. He also created models and drawings that demonstrated how to easily excavate and tunnel through mountains, as well as designs for mills, fulling machines, etc.
Inventions in da Vinci’s Journal
The extensive range of themes covered in da Vinci’s Journal includes mechanics, a study for an underwater breathing device, concave mirrors, the design of mechanical organs, architecture, and bird flight, among others.
5 Interesting Facts About Leonardo da Vinci
He Had No Real Last Name: In the modern sense, Leonardo lacked a surname. He was born in the Tuscan village of Vinci and was given the full name Lionardo di ser Piero da Vinci, which translates to "son of Piero from Vinci.”
He Was An Illegitimate Child: Leonardo was the son of Ser Piero, a Florentine lawyer, and Caterina, an unmarried peasant lady, and was born on April 14 or 15 of 1452 in a farmhouse outside the Tuscan village of Anchiano.
No Formal Education: Leonardo never attended school, despite being the author of some of the greatest inventions and ideas ever. But, he was taught to read, write, and calculate basic mathematics.
He was Left-Handed: Despite being left-handed, research has shown that Leonardo da Vinci was as skilled at writing and painting with his right hand. He used to mirror-write or write in reverse, which, when viewed in a mirror, seems normal.
Leonardo's Musical Talents: He believed that music and the visual arts were intimately intertwined because each relied on one of the five senses. He also played the flute and lyre, frequently giving performances at noble gatherings and in his customers' homes.
How Leonardo da Vinci Painted the Last Supper
- During Leonardo's first prolonged visit to Milan, the duke of that city, Ludovico Sforza, commissioned the wall painting.
- Leonardo experimented with a method for the Last Supper painting by applying tempera or oil paint to two layers of dry ground.
- By placing the vanishing point directly behind Christ's right temple, Leonardo drew the viewer's attention to Jesus, at the center of the table.
- The painting took almost 2 years to complete.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leonardo da Vinci
A. Leonardo da Vinci is a well-known Italian Polymath who excelled as an artist, engineer, sculptor, scientist, and architect.
A. Leonardo da Vinci has been hailed one of the most popular renaissance artist and his works are recognized and admired all over the world.
A. Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Self Portrait, The Vitruvian Man, Salvator Mundi, etc, are his masterpieces.
A. Da Vinci’s full name was Lionardo di ser Piero da Vinci, which translates to "son of Piero from Vinci.
A. Da Vinci started painting Last Supper in 1495.
A. The Medici family was Leonardo da Vinci's very first patron.
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