Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was born out of wedlock in 1452 to parents Messer Piero (a notary) and Caterina (a peasant). The Italian polymath is renowned for his contributions in diverse areas of study from art to anatomy to cartography. His most famous and recognizable work are his paintings the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper and the Vitruvian Man, but the depth and scope of his work were extensive. Da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer.
Having lived with both his mother and his father (and the father’s family) at different times (in the valley of the Arno River, Florence), Leonardo gained a dynamic and broad view of the world. At an early age he was introduced to science and journal entry from his uncle and grandfather respectively, which proved extremely valuable and crucial to the success that ensued. Curious in nature with an acute eye for observation, Leonardo diligently documented all of his life’s events daily.
Habitually and methodically, Leonardo produced most of his work through the power of observation and perspective. To quote his exact words, “Those who are in love with practice without knowledge are like the sailor who gets into a ship without rudder or compass and who never can be certain whether he is going. Practice must always be founded on sound theory, and to this Perspective is the guide and the gateway; and without this nothing can be done well in the matter of drawing.” Leonardo’s approach to scientific exploration was unlike his counterparts Galileo and Newton. Unable to attend university, this did not dampen his ambitions nor his ability to meaningfully contribute to the world. Utilizing astute observation and detailed recording, Leonardo’s investigative approach occurred mainly through sight. His documentation of every detail was the key part of his investigative process.
Introduction To Art
In 1466, Leonardo became an apprentice to the artist Verrocchio. Under his stewardship, he developed a vast array of technical skills. Apart from painting and drawing, he was granted the ability to study topographical anatomy, drafting, set construction, plastering, paint chemistry and metallurgy. During Leonardo’s time working under Verrocchio, he was also fascinated with the work of Piero della Francesca, whose scientific approach to painting and understanding the fundamental principles of linear light (although not seconded by Verrocchio) sparked an avid interest in his mind. Da Vinci held a sound appreciation for this perspective and was able to integrate this into his own work. This was demonstrated in two paintings constructed by Leonardo of the Annunciation show.
Areas Of Study
Light — Based on the studies by his predecessor, Piero, Leonardo was able to build on his understanding of light. He demonstrated the ability to create the illusion of the three-dimensional fall of light on a two-dimensional painting that encapsulated the dimensions of space and distance. In other words, by understanding the nature of light, he scientifically created separations of backgrounds and foregrounds in pictures employing the use of varying tones to achieve contrast. The Mona Lisa and The Virgin of the Rocks paintings clearly demonstrated the use of light to convey depth, motion and life.
In his documentations, Leonardo said, “The lights which may illuminate opaque bodies are of 4 kinds. These are; diffused light as that of the atmosphere; And Direct, as that of the sun; The third is Reflected light; and there is a 4th which is that which passes through [translucent] bodies, as linen or paper etc.”
Anatomy and Dissection — Under Verrocchio, Leonardo formally studied the human anatomy from a sketching point of view. He was introduced to and studied the muscular and tendon structure of the body; and the mechanics of the skeleton and muscles. He advanced his study later on as he obtained permission to engage in dissection of human corpses at the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence. Pursuant to this, he conducted many more dissections in a hospital in Milan. Between the years 1510 and 1511, Leonardo collaborated with Dr. Marcantonio della Torre.
After 30 years of remarkable discoveries and continuous work, Leonardo dissected 30 male and female corpses at various stages of life. With his lifetime colleague della Torre, he made concrete plans to publish theoretical work in anatomy with a collection of 200 drawings. However, this did not actually happen as the book was published posthumously in 1680.
Some of his noteworthy accomplishments in anatomy were:
First person to describe the double S form of the backbone
Study of the inclination of the pelvis and sacrum; noting that the sacrum was not uniform but made up of 5 vertebrae
Recording of the human bone structure
Study of the internal organs; being the first person to draw the appendix, lungs, mesentery, urinary tract, reproductive organs, the cervix and the act of coitus
Drawings of the heart and how it worked (not circulation)
Although Leonardo was able to study and document many parts of the body correctly, he was anatomically incorrect in the areas of soft tissue and the fundamentals of organ placement in women. However, his work was accurate and extensive in the outer structure and frame of the physique.
His love for exploration prompted him to engage in comparative anatomy in which he studied animal structures in relation of human bodies. Additionally, he dabbled in botany in which he drew and studied structures of plants and their functions.
Geology, Maps and Hydrodynamics — Leonardo demonstrated a passion and long-standing understanding for geology. From a tender age, he captured on canvas the innuendos and minutest details of his hometown, the Arno Valley. Sketching numerous landscapes in his notebooks, Leonardo documented various parts of Florence and Italy and was able to portray atmospheric conditions, such a rainfall!
His paintings encapsulate tones and details of landscapes, lakes, water courses and mountains. Famous paintings depicting scenes from Northern Italy such as Lago di Garda and Lago d’lseo feature his prominent understanding of geological formation.
Leonardo produced several accurate maps during his lifetime, such as the town plan of Imola and the Chiana Valley in Tuscany. Additionally, his firm grasp of the mechanics of water ways was displayed in his drawings. He produced multiple water drawings of water flowing from heights, the spiralling motion of water, streams and rivers. Due to his demonstrated fascination and understanding of maps, Leonardo was recruited as military engineer and architect by Cesare Borgia.
From da Vinci’s wide knowledge base, he used his wisdom to dream and envision many inventions—some of which were practical and created, and some that were impractical due to cost or engineering shortcomings.
He designed bridges, hydraulic machines, war machines, a flying machine, and a musical instrument called the viola.
Leonardo da Vinci was an inventor and genius thinker during the Renaissance period, a time where new theories and ideologies were embraced. To this day, his inventions have a positive impact worldly. Let’s take the time to appreciate all of the art and sophistication he has graced the world with…the influence of a self-made man from humble beginnings!