LEONARDO DA VINCI | Draw My Life

TikTak Draw

14 Apr 201905:13

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

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🎨 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

The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and scientific advancement in Europe, spanning the 14th to the 17th century. It is marked by a revival of interest in the classical arts and sciences, and Leonardo da Vinci is a quintessential Renaissance man due to his contributions in various fields. The script highlights how the Renaissance period fostered artistic and scientific exploration, enabling da Vinci's diverse achievements.

💡sfumato

Sfumato is a painting technique developed by Leonardo da Vinci that involves blending colors and tones in a way that creates a soft, gradual transition without hard lines. This technique is notably used in 'La Gioconda' (the Mona Lisa), where it contributes to the enigmatic quality of the subject's smile. The script emphasizes da Vinci's innovation in using sfumato to achieve a greater sense of depth and realism.

💡La Gioconda

'La Gioconda', more commonly known as the Mona Lisa, is one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous paintings. The portrait is renowned for its intricate details and the mysterious expression of its subject, achieved through the sfumato technique. The script describes how this painting has fascinated viewers for centuries due to its subtle and lifelike rendering.

💡Vitruvian Man

The Vitruvian Man is a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci based on the work of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius. It illustrates the proportions of the human body and combines art and science in its representation. The script mentions this drawing as a significant example of da Vinci's contributions to scientific illustration, showcasing his understanding of human anatomy and proportion.

💡Last Supper

The Last Supper is a mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting Jesus and his disciples at the moment Jesus announces that one of them will betray him. This work is noted for its dramatic composition and the realistic portrayal of the characters' emotions. The script highlights how this painting broke from traditional religious compositions by humanizing its subjects, making it a revolutionary piece in its time.

💡Verrocchio

Andrea del Verrocchio was an influential Italian artist and Leonardo da Vinci's early mentor. Under Verrocchio, da Vinci learned painting and sculpture, contributing to projects such as the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore. The script discusses how Verrocchio's workshop was a crucial training ground for da Vinci, setting the stage for his future achievements.

💡Ludovico Sforza

Ludovico Sforza, also known as Ludovico il Moro, was the Duke of Milan and a patron of Leonardo da Vinci. Sforza commissioned several of da Vinci's works, including 'The Last Supper', and supported his projects in engineering and architecture. The script underscores the importance of Sforza's patronage in providing da Vinci with the resources and opportunities to pursue his diverse interests.

💡Virgin of the Rocks

'Virgin of the Rocks' is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci created for the church of San Francesco in Milan. It is notable for its use of the sfumato technique and the complex composition that depicts the Virgin Mary, Christ Child, John the Baptist, and an angel in a rocky landscape. The script uses this painting to illustrate da Vinci's mastery of innovative painting techniques.

💡hydraulics

Hydraulics refers to the technology and science of the behavior of fluids, particularly water, in motion. Leonardo da Vinci applied his knowledge of hydraulics to design plans for canal systems and water flow management. The script mentions his work on the canalization of rivers during a plague outbreak, demonstrating his engineering skills and concern for public health.

💡Caterina

Caterina was Leonardo da Vinci's mother, a peasant woman who had a relationship with Ser Piero, a wealthy notary. The script briefly mentions her to provide context for da Vinci's early life and family background, showing the contrast between his humble maternal origins and his father's higher social standing.

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.