Fine Art Fridays #5- Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci
(1452-1514)

Leonardo da Vinci is arguably the world's most famous artist. His paintings and life have become the basis of much myth, legend, and speculation. He was born in the town of Vinci near Florence in 1452. He later took the name of his birthplace as his own. Though his father never married his mother, Leonardo was the son of an important man. It was this illegitimate relation that would deny him access to the universities and professions of his father's family which in turn caused him to be apprenticed to a famous artist , Andrea del Verrocchio. Leonardo was not satisfied to simply be a painter however and he helped to further the cause of science, invention, engineering, and architecture as well. His autopsies of cadavers could have caused him to be excommunicated from the church, but his detailed drawings and notes actually increased the knowledge of the workings of the human body well beyond the knowledge of the day. Deciphering his notes often required a mirror. Many believed he was trying to protect his discoveries. In truth, he was left handed and writing backwards was easier for him, though when he truly wanted to keep something secret he wrote in code. He is of course best known for his paintings of The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Though we know he painted many, many paintings, only 17 survive to this day. On May 2nd, 1514, Leonardo died, supposedly in the arms of the King of France.






Links

Monna Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci

National Gallery of Art NGAkids Leonardo da Vinci, , Ginevra de' Benci

Leonardo's Mystery Machines

Museum of Science, Boston | Virtual Exhibits | Leonardo

The interactive Mona Lisa - Mona Lips-synch - Exhibition Images in Paris - Cité des Sciences, France
A Lifetime of Color - Leonardo's Workshop

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