Leonardo Da Vinci: The Renaissance Man. Marshall High School Mr. Cline Western Civilization II Unit Two HA

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1 Leonardo Da Vinci: The Renaissance Man Marshall High School Mr. Cline Western Civilization II Unit Two HA

2 Early Years of da Vinci Some people are really good at math. Some people are really great at drawing. Some people are really great at math and drawing. And then there are some people who are just about great at everything. One of those people, Leonardo da Vinci, is the subject of this presentation. Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in a small village on the Tuscan hillside. His father, a public official, and his mother, a peasant girl, were never married. There are very few accurate accounts of his early years, but history records that da Vinci began apprenticing for the well-known artist, Verrocchio, while still in his teens. Verrocchio was known as a true craftsman. Working by his side in the artistic hub of Florence, Leonardo learned the importance of quality and execution when representing the human body.

3 Early Years of da Vinci Upon completing his apprenticeship, da Vinci continued with Verrocchio. With Verrocchio at the helm, they collaborated to complete Verrocchio's Baptism of Christ.

4 Early Years of da Vinci Although some may disagree, it is commonly held that Leonardo is responsible for the young angel holding the robe of Christ, as well as some of the landscape. No matter which part he actually contributed, legend holds that upon seeing the work of Leonardo, Verrocchio was so overcome by the young artist's talent he put down his own brush and vowed never to paint again! Da Vinci Uses Perspective Somewhere around the year 1478, Leonardo branched out on his own. In 1481, he landed a major church commission, or the hiring and payment for the creation of a piece. The commission was for The Adoration of the Magi. In this unfinished work, Leonardo set himself apart by placing the Virgin and the Child in the center of the painting.

5 Da Vinci Uses Perspective Up to this point, paintings done of the sacred pair traditionally saw them at the side of the picture, not the center.

6 Da Vinci Uses Perspective Like those of several other artists of the time period, da Vinci's works employed the use of linear perspective, in which objects appear smaller in proportion as they are further away. However, Leonardo, being the master he was, took this a step further by adding perspective of clarity, in which distant objects are less distinct, and perspective of color, in which distant objects are more muted in their colors. These concepts can be seen in his later work, The Virgin and the Child with St. Anne.

Da Vinci Uses Perspective Notice how the mountains are almost blurred, and the colors are muted, almost bland. Toward the end of the 15th century, Leonardo moved his craft to Milan.

7 Da Vinci Uses Perspective Notice how the mountains are almost blurred, and the colors are muted, almost bland. Toward the end of the 15th century, Leonardo moved his craft to Milan. During this period, he gave history The Last Supper. Take a look at this revered masterpiece. Notice how the back wall is represented to show distance, while the outside scenery is muted and blurred.

9 The Scientist and the Inventor Around the year 1500, Leonardo returned to Florence. During this period, he created the Mona Lisa. This lovely lady is still shrouded in mystery, but no matter who she is, or who she isn't, she is one of the most famous art works of all time.

10 The Scientist and the Inventor During this time, Leonardo also used his scientific knowledge as a military engineer for the infamous Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI. This is a great place to diverge from Leonardo the artist to Leonardo the scientist and inventor. Throughout his life, Leonardo had fantastic ideas that were way ahead of his time. He sketched precursors to the helicopter, the armored car and even something akin to a robot! All of these things are now reality in one form or another. Speaking of reality, he also proposed creating a bridge at the Golden Horn Inlet of Istanbul to modern-day Pera, Turkey. This proposal was quickly rejected as impossible. However, in 2001, a bridge very similar to that of da Vinci's design was completed in Norway.

12 The Study of Anatomy The genius of Leonardo also stretched to the area of human anatomy. In the early 1500s, Leonardo returned to Milan. Here his work began to focus more on scientific observation than traditional art. Much of this observation centered on the human form. Page upon page of his journals are filled with anatomical figures and theories that were well beyond his day. One of the most famous of these is the Vitruvian Man. Another page shows an unborn fetus, while another shows detailed anatomy of the human arm. This appreciation of the human form clearly bled into his artistic pieces.

The Study of Anatomy Take a look at this self-portrait, created somewhere around the year 1515.

13 The Study of Anatomy Take a look at this self-portrait, created somewhere around the year Notice how the lines on the forehead and around the eyes are represented so realistically, how the muscles in the forehead seem to tighten with the muscles of the eye. You can also see this in the downturned facial muscles of the cheeks and the lips. These works give great evidence to the idea that Leonardo the inventor and Leonardo the scientist were just as amazing as Leonardo the artist!

The Study of Anatomy From 1513 to 1516, Leonardo spent time in Rome. However, he didn't indulge in its rich culture but instead immersed himself in his scientific entries.

14 The Study of Anatomy From 1513 to 1516, Leonardo spent time in Rome. However, he didn't indulge in its rich culture but instead immersed himself in his scientific entries. After this time, he left for France, entering the service of Francis I, who commissioned him to make a mechanical lion that could actually move forward with a chest that opened to expose a bouquet of lilies.

Leonardo da Vinci. Summary. Contents. Jez Uden. Level 4-2. Before Reading Think Ahead During Reading Comprehension... 5

Leonardo da Vinci. Summary. Contents. Jez Uden. Level 4-2. Before Reading Think Ahead During Reading Comprehension... 5 Level 4-2 Leonardo da Vinci Jez Uden Summary This book is about the life of Leonardo da Vinci and his many paintings, designs, and creations. Contents Before Reading Think Ahead... 2 Vocabulary... 3 During