LEONARDO DA VINCI | Draw My Life
Summary
TLDRLeonardo da Vinci, born in 1452, was a polymath of the Italian Renaissance known for his diverse talents in art, science, and engineering. Apprenticed to Verrocchio, he pioneered oil painting and the sfumato technique, creating iconic works like 'The Virgin of the Rocks' and 'Mona Lisa'. His scientific illustrations, such as 'Vitruvian Man', revolutionized the field. Despite political instability affecting many of his projects, da Vinci's genius and influence endure, culminating in his peaceful final years in France, where he passed away in 1519.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Leonardo da Vinci was a polymath of the Italian Renaissance, excelling in various artistic and scientific disciplines.
- 🌱 Born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, he was the son of a peasant woman and a wealthy notary.
- 👨🎨 At seventeen, he became an apprentice to the artist Verrocchio, learning painting and sculpture, and contributed to the construction of the Santa Maria dei Fiore dome.
- 🚀 The Renaissance facilitated cultural exchange and commercial growth, during which da Vinci introduced oil painting, a technique from the Netherlands, in his first major work 'The Adoration of the Magi'.
- 🏙️ In 1482, he moved to Milan and presented himself to Duke Ludovico Sforza, where he worked on hydraulic, mechanical, and architectural projects.
- 💡 Da Vinci believed that cleanliness and proper urban planning could mitigate the effects of the plague, and he designed river canalization plans to demonstrate this.
- 🖌️ He painted 'The Virgin of the Rocks' in 1483, incorporating the innovative sfumato technique, which created a sense of depth by layering paint to achieve softer contours.
- 🌟 'Mona Lisa', also known as 'La Gioconda', is one of the most famous paintings in history, where da Vinci used sfumato to create the illusion of a disappearing smile.
- 📚 In 1494, da Vinci participated in illustrating 'La Divina Proportione' by Luca Pacioli, establishing himself as a pioneer in scientific illustration.
- 🍽️ 'The Last Supper', completed in 1498, is an iconic mural depicting Jesus with his apostles before his betrayal, showcasing da Vinci's revolutionary approach to humanizing religious subjects.
- 🔬 After the fall of Milan to French forces, da Vinci's interest in science deepened, attending dissections and creating detailed anatomical illustrations.
- 🏰 Despite political instability and many of his projects remaining unrealized, da Vinci was offered the position of architect and painter at the Milan court, where he designed a castle and made sketches for the oratory of Santa Maria alla Fontana.
- 🕊️ He spent his final years in France, living more like a noble than an employee, and was granted great respect by the French king until his death on May 2, 1519.
- 📚 His vast collection of manuscripts and drawings were bequeathed to his student Francesco Melzi, preserving da Vinci's legacy for future generations.
Q & A
Who is Leonardo da Vinci known for being?
-Leonardo da Vinci is known for being a polymath of the Italian Renaissance, excelling in various artistic and scientific disciplines.
When and where was Leonardo da Vinci born?
-Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in the Florentine locality of Vinci, Italy.
What were the professions of Leonardo da Vinci's parents?
-Leonardo's mother, Caterina, was a peasant, and his father, Ser Piero, was a wealthy notary from Florence.
At what age did Leonardo da Vinci become an apprentice to the artist Verrocchio?
-Leonardo da Vinci became an apprentice to the artist Verrocchio at the age of seventeen.
What technique did Leonardo da Vinci introduce to painting?
-Leonardo da Vinci introduced the technique of oil painting, which allowed for greater control in the thickness of the paint.
Outlines
🎨 Life and Early Artistic Training of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci, born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, was a polymath of the Italian Renaissance. He displayed a wide range of artistic and scientific talents, excelling as a painter, architect, engineer, and inventor. Born to a peasant mother, Caterina, and a wealthy notary father, Ser Piero, da Vinci's early curiosity and talent led to his apprenticeship under the artist Verrocchio at seventeen. He learned painting and sculpture, and contributed to the construction of the dome of Santa Maria dei Fiore with Brunelleschi. His introduction of oil painting, a technique from the Netherlands, to his first major work 'The Adoration of the Magi', showcased his innovative spirit.
🏛 Leonardo's Move to Milan and Diverse Projects
In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci relocated to Milan, where he presented himself to Duke Ludovico Sforza, seeking patronage. Under Sforza's protection, da Vinci embarked on various projects in hydraulics, mechanics, and architecture, alongside creating several paintings. During a plague outbreak, he developed plans for river channeling, demonstrating his architectural and engineering prowess. His innovative use of the sfumato technique in 'The Virgin of the Rocks' allowed for more precise depth effects, a technique he would later employ in his iconic work, the Mona Lisa.
📚 Collaboration with Luca Pacioli and the Creation of the Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci's contributions extended beyond painting; in 1494, he collaborated with mathematician Luca Pacioli on 'La Divina Proportione', pioneering modern scientific illustration. His detailed drawings, such as the famous 'Vitruvian Man', are still studied today. In 1498, da Vinci completed the mural 'The Last Supper', a biblical scene depicting Jesus with his apostles before his betrayal by Judas. This work became iconic, influencing artists across Europe with its revolutionary humanization of religious subjects.
🛳️ Leonardo's Later Years and Scientific Pursuits
Following the French conquest of Milan in 1500, Leonardo moved to Venice, where his passion for science deepened. He attended dissections to create detailed illustrations of human anatomy. Later, as the architect and painter for the court of Milan's governor, he designed a castle and made sketches for the oratory of Santa Maria alla Fontana, though these remained unrealized. Political instability led to his departure to Rome, where he lived a peaceful period under Pope Leo X, drawing maps and planning a grand residence for the Medici family.
🏰 Leonardo's Final Years and Legacy
Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years in France at the Château de Cloux, granted respect by King Francis I. Living more as nobility than an employee, his health declined until his death on May 2, 1519, at the age of 67. He bequeathed his belongings to his student Francesco Melzi, who returned to Italy with invaluable manuscripts and drawings. Leonardo's genius was ahead of his time, and his influence persists, even five centuries after his death.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Renaissance
💡sfumato
💡La Gioconda
💡Vitruvian Man
💡Last Supper
💡Verrocchio
💡Ludovico Sforza
💡Virgin of the Rocks
💡hydraulics
💡Caterina
Highlights
Leonardo da Vinci was a polymath who excelled in various fields of the Italian Renaissance.
Born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, he showed great curiosity and talent from a young age.
Apprenticed at 17 under the artist Verrocchio, da Vinci learned painting, sculpture, and construction techniques.
He introduced oil painting to the Renaissance, using it in his first major work, 'The Adoration of the Magi'.
In 1482, da Vinci moved to Milan and worked under the patronage of Ludovico Sforza on various projects.
He made plans for river canalization to combat the effects of the Black Death, demonstrating his architectural and engineering knowledge.
Da Vinci painted 'The Virgin of the Rocks' in 1483, incorporating the innovative sfumato technique.
The sfumato technique created a smoky effect, adding depth and realism to his paintings.
He applied the sfumato technique again in the iconic 'Mona Lisa', creating a mysterious optical illusion.
In 1494, da Vinci contributed to 'The Divine Proportion', establishing him as a pioneer in scientific illustration.
His 'Vitruvian Man' drawing is still studied today for its anatomical accuracy and artistic skill.
Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' mural revolutionized religious art by humanizing the figures and deviating from classical composition.
After the fall of Milan in 1500, da Vinci moved to Venice, where his scientific pursuits deepened.
He dissected cadavers to create detailed anatomical drawings, advancing the understanding of the human body.
Despite political instability, da Vinci continued to work as an architect and painter for the Milan court.
He moved to Rome and lived a peaceful period under Pope Leo X, where he drew maps and designed residences.
Da Vinci spent his final years in France, respected by King Francis I and living like nobility.
He passed away on May 2, 1519, leaving a legacy of groundbreaking work and ideas.
His student Francesco Melzi preserved da Vinci's manuscripts and drawings, which are invaluable today.
Leonardo da Vinci's influence as a genius ahead of his time continues to be felt 500 years after his death.
Transcripts
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, más conocido como Leonardo da Vinci, fue un estudioso de
diversos campos del Renacimiento italiano.
Nació el 15 de abril de 1452 en la localidad florentina de Vinci, Italia.
A lo largo de su vida abarcó un sinfín de disciplinas artísticas y científicas, destacando
especialmente como pintor, arquitecto, ingeniero e inventor.
Fue hijo de una campesina llamada Caterina y de Ser Piero, un rico notario florentino.
Pronto mostró una gran curiosidad y talento, por lo que su padre le permitió ingresar
como aprendiz del artista Verrocchio a los diecisiete años.
Con él aprendió pintura y escultura, y trabajó en la construcción de la cúpula de la iglesia
de Santa Maria dei Fiore junto a Brunelleschi.
El Renacimiento trajo grandes avances en el comercio y el arte, y propició el intercambio
cultural.
Ya como aprendiz da Vinci introdujo la pintura al óleo, una técnica proveniente de los
Países Bajos que permitía un mayor control en el espesor de la pintura, y que empleó
en “La adoración de los Magos”, su primera gran obra
Tras formarse en un amplio abanico de técnicas y haber superado a su maestro, decidió buscar
nuevos retos.
En 1482 marcha a Milán y se presenta ante su duque y mecenas, Ludovico Sforza.
Bajo su protección realizó proyectos sobre hidráulica, mecánica y arquitectura, así
como algunas obras pictóricas.
Por aquel entonces una nueva ola de peste negra asoló Europa.
Convencido de que la suciedad y el hacinamiento sólo empeoraba el escenario, hizo planos
para la canalización de los ríos, demostrando profundas nociones de arquitectura e ingeniería.
En 1483 fue contratado para realizar una pintura para la iglesia de San Francisco, la famosa
“Virgen de las Rocas” . En ella incorporó una nueva e innovadora
técnica, el sfumato.
Esta consistía en multiplicar las capas de pintura para conseguir contornos más imprecisos,
logrando un efecto de mayor profundidad.
Más tarde volvería a utilizarlo en uno de los cuadros más famosos de la historia: “La
Gioconda”, conocida popularmente como la Mona Lisa
. Gracias al sfumato logró crear un efecto óptico en el que la sonrisa de la protagonista
parece desvanecerse cuando la miramos fijamente.
Esta particularidad ha fascinado a generaciones durante siglos, creando todo un halo de misterio
a su alrededor Pero no solo la pintura ocupó su tiempo.
En 1494 participó en la ilustración de la obra La Divina Proportione, del matemático
Luca Pacioli.
Sus rigurosos dibujos lo convirtieron en el creador de la ilustración científica moderna.
De hecho, algunos de ellos todavía se siguen estudiando hoy en día, como el famoso “Hombre
de Vitruvio”.
En el año 1498 Leonardo finalizó otra de sus grandes obras: el mural de “La última
cena”, una escena bíblica en la que Jesús comparte mesa con los doce apóstoles antes
de ser traicionado por Judas . Rápidamente se convirtió en una pintura icónica, haciendo
que cientos de artistas de todo el continente acudiesen a contemplarla.
Fue pintada directamente sobre la pared, y para la escena da Vinci se alejó de la composición
clásica y trató de humanizar a los personajes, algo que resultó ciertamente revolucionario
en el contexto religioso de la época.
Hacia el año 1500 las tropas francesas conquistaron el ducado de Milán, y Leonardo decidió trasladarse
a Venecia . Su pasión por la ciencia era cada vez mayor; asistía a disecciones de
cadáveres, para después elaborar ilustraciones en las que describía la estructura y el funcionamiento
del cuerpo humano como nadie había hecho hasta el momento.
Unos años más tarde el gobernador de Milán le ofreció el cargo de arquitecto y pintor
de la corte.
Allí ideó para él un castillo, y ejecutó bocetos para el oratorio de Santa Maria alla
Fontana.
Sin embargo, se quedaron en meros proyectos, al igual que muchas de sus obras.
Una nueva época de inestabilidad política lo obligó a abandonar la ciudad.
Esta vez se fue a Roma, y en el Vaticano vivió una etapa tranquila bajo las directrices del
Papa León X.
Dibujó mapas e ideó una gran residencia para los Médici.
Pero cada vez recibía menos encargos, que iban a parar a manos de otros artistas de
la época.
Tras la muerte de su protector y profundamente decepcionado, dejó Italia para pasar sus
últimos años de vida en el palacio de Cloux, en Francia.
El rey francés le concedió un gran respeto, y vivió más como un miembro de la nobleza
que como un empleado.
Su salud fue deteriorándose poco a poco hasta su muerte el 2 de mayo de 1519, a los sesenta
y siete años.
Legó todas sus pertenencias a su alumno Francesco Melzi, que retornó a Italia copias de manuscritos
y dibujos de incalculable valor.
Sin duda, Leonardo da Vinci fue un genio adelantado a su tiempo, cuya influencia aún sigue presente
quinientos años después
de su muerte!
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