Leonardo Da Vinci is the epitome of the term “Renaissance Man” because of his expertise as a scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician, and writer.
He lived his life fully by exploring and answering all his curiosities in all the fields available in his time. However, Da Vinci is primarily famous for his craft as a painter through the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. These two paintings are considered to be two of the most famous and most reproduced paintings of all time. The most recent vehicle that made Leonardo Da Vinci and his works the center of attention was the best selling book and blockbuster hit movie, “The Da Vinci Code.”
Leonardo di ser Piero Da Vinci was an Italian polymath who was born in Vinci, Italy on April 15, 1452 as the illegitimate son of notary Piero da Vinci and a peasant woman named Caterina. He was taken in by his father and while growing up in his father’s home, Leonardo became exposed to books and love for painting. When he was 15 years old his father apprenticed him to the famous workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence where he showed his great talent in painting. He was able to create his own style of painting and even developed his own formula of paint that subsequently he surpassed the work done by his master. After he left Verrochio, he went on to become the court artist for the duke of Milan where he also served a variety of roles such as a civil engineer, architect, military planner and weapons designer during a time that Renaissance Italy was constantly at war.
During Da Vinci’s lifetime he was able to explore the different areas of science, the arts and other interests but he had a habit of leaving things half done that most of his best works took several years before finishing them. These include The Last Supper and The Virgin on the Rocks. He explored, invented, painted and studied most of the time by going out into nature or locking himself in his workshop. He also had a habit of writing down records of his studies and between 1490 and 1495 he meticulously recorded and illustrated most of his work in his notebooks. These covered most of his work on painting, architectures, the elements of mechanics and human anatomy.
Leonardo Da Vinci as a true Renaissance man educated himself and excelled in a wide variety of subjects. Nowadays, Da Vinci is still a recognized polymath whose works are highly regarded and valued in millions of dollars. Many of his paintings, inventions and written works have been collected by antique enthusiasts and museums worldwide.
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