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Who is Leonardo Da Vinci?

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the great man of Renaissance period. He was regarded as a genius during his time because he has prolific discoveries and activities which are rather advance if not innovative during the 15th century. He was notably highly regarded in the works of Arts and Science and his mastery of this matters is shown by the popularity of his works.

He was born at a time known as Renaissance period where other great artists such as Raphael and Michael Angelo became know as well not only in Italy but in the whole world.

When was Leonardo Da Vinci born?

Leonardo da Vinci was born in April 15, 1452 in Florence. Particularly he grow up in Tuscan Hilltown of Vinci in the lower valley of the Arno River.

His maternal history however is not the usual story as he was born as an illegitimated child from a middle east enslave mother, Caterina and by his father Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, a Florentine notary.

There is so little history on Leonardo’s life aside from his father marrying a 16 year old named Albiera who was very caring to Leonardo at a young age but later die early.

Among his memoirs during his childhood is that when a kite dropped on the sky almost hitting him and when he was doing a mountain climbing and found a cave. But he was so afraid because a monster may be inside it but at the same time his very curious to explore it.

Formative Years of Leonardo Da Vinci at Verrocchio’s Workshop in 1466-1476

Andrea di Cione, known as Verrocchio was the man who laid the foundation of skills for Leonardo Da Vinci. At the year 1466 and at a younger age of 14, Leonardo started apprenticeship with popular Verrocchio.

There are other famous painter people who have studied under Verrocchio which includes Ghirlandaio, Perugino, Botticelli, and Lorenzo di Credi.

A wide range of technical skills would have been introduced to Leonardo, and he would have had the chance to acquire drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, metal working, plaster casting, leather working, mechanics, carpentry, as well as the aesthetic talents of drawing, painting, sculpting, and modelling.

During this time, Leonardo was known to have contributed on painting one of Verrocchio’s famous artwork know as “The Baptism”

Leonardo Da Vinci “The Baptism”

In this picture there are portrait of two child where one is an angel and another Jesus. It can be noted that this is the usual template of Leonardo with realistic drawing and  where the background consist of a rocky mountainous region.

In 1472 at the Age of 20, Leonardo is already skilled in most forms of art work and already, a master painter and doctor of medicine at the guild of St Luke.

At later years he had a good relationship with Verrocchio such that his future works has collaborations with him as well.

Active Years of Leonardo Da Vinci 1476-1513

During his middle years Leonardo was known to have stayed in Florence between 1476 and 1481. He was commissioned to paint an altarpiece in 1478 for the Chapel of St Bernard and the Adoration of the Magi in 1481 Monks of San Donato a Scopeto.

Leonardo Da Vinci Adoration of the Magi

In 1482, through his artworks he averted a quarrel between the duke of Milan Ludovico il Moro and Lorenzo de' Medici.

Much of his works later were focus on religious subjects but occasionally he accepts portrait making as well.

Between 1482 and 1489 he painted “Virgin of the Rocks” for Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception and the “last supper” for Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Leonardo da Vinci also did work for pageants and floats for a Milan Cathedral and a monument for Francesco Sforza. He finished his "Gran Cavallo" in 1492 which is a monumental work at the time and considered to be one of the biggest statues of the Renaissance period.

Leonarodo Da Vinci “The Last Supper”

In 1495 Leonardo’s famous work “ The last Supper” was completed. This is his portrait of interpretation for the gospel of the New Testament. Here you can see all 12 of them while depicting the betrayal of Judas which is still with him during this time. The portrait measures 4.6Meter by 8.8Meter

In this portrait you can see the perspective construction where its vanishing point is in the back of Jesus.

Everything started to change when war started to broke out in 1499. His Gran Cavallo was used as target practive during the military operations and Leonardo was commisioned to help during the war when he migrated to Venice. He and his assistant became architech and engineer devising equipments to serve the military.

He was very famous already during this time as he have collaborated with a lot of artists and most of his works were done during this time.

In 1500 his works included The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist which was done in Santissima Annunziata.

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Leonardo Da Vinci The virgin and the child

Most notable during the 1500’s is his most famous work when he was commission to paint the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. This was the time that Leonardo da Vinci completed his “Mona Lisa”. The portrait smile have captivated artists and local people such that it became his greatest masterpiece.

​Leonardo Da Vinci Mona Lisa

Old Leonardo Da Vinci

In 1506, Leonardo return to Milan for a statues making job. This is the time where most of his works about botany and biology were significant. This is where his sketches of bird and study of flight was known as what he did for the seven years of tenure here.

The latter years of Leonardo Da Vinci’s life was mostly in 1513-1516 Belvedere in the Vatican in Rome. During this time his counterparts Raphael and Michael Angelo were then very famous as well.

Leonardo Da vinci died in May 2, 1519 where his closed friend François I records that when Leonardo die, the king held Leonardos head in his arms. Others believe his death story to be fictional rather than real life as most of his friends are all artists and romanticists.

Leonardo also remembered his other long-time pupil and companion, Salai and his servant Battista di Vilussis, who each received half of Leonardo's vineyards, his brothers who received land, and his serving woman who received a black cloak of good stuff with a fur edge.

During his lifetime, there were about 318 detailed works of Leonardo Da Vinci that was recorded and we will discuss this in our next articles.

Other articles about Leonardo Da Vinci:

Leonardo Da Vinci – Interesting Facts about Mona Lisa

Leonardo Da Vinci Paintings, Inventions & Biography!