Leonardo da Vinci
By: Cameron Detscher
Where was Leonardo da Vinci born?
Leonardo da Vinci born on April 15, 1452 near the village 25 miles West of Florence, Italy.
"Leonardo da Vinci." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in
Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Where did Leonardo spend most of his Life?
Leonardo spent the early years of his life living in Florence, Italy. In 1482 he accepted the post of court artist to the Duke of Milan in Milan Italy. He lived in Milan for Eighteen years and in 1500 he returned to Florence when his Patron was overthrown by the French invasion of 1499. Called back to Milan in 1506 by the French governor where he focussed less on painting and more on scientific observation. He spent the final years of his life in Rome until FRench king Francis the First invited him to his court and Cloux, France. He died in Cloux, France on May 2, 1519.
"Leonardo da Vinci." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
http://www.eftours.com/educational-tours/tours-by-region/france.aspx
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Training and Education
Leonardo received his training and education from a man named Area Del Verrocchio. He was the greatest skilled craftsman in Florence during the Renaissance. At the age of 15 Leonardo's dad apprenticed him to Verrocchio. Leonardo was fascinated at Verrocchio's skill and passion for his work. This lead Leonardo to become a famous craftsman during his time. Leonardo expanded his painting skill set by changing with the times. At one point he was considered the most influential artist inspiring two of the greatest artists to come in contact with him, Raphael and Michelangelo.
"Leonardo da Vinci." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Life style of Leonardo
Leonardo traveled to many places because of his talent for painting. He traveled to Milan to meet the Duke of Milan. There he showed the Duke his military engineering skills and craft man ship skills. This helped produce they catapults for the Milan Army. He also travelled to France when commissioned to by the king of France, Fracis the First. when the French govenor called him to Milan Leonardo had stopped working on paintings and turned his attention to an equestrian statue project. He traveled and painted for most of his life. His middle years he focused more on sculpting and exploring scientific inquiry. Unfortunatly he became inactive and aloof from social and artistic life in his later years.
"Leonardo da Vinci." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
Art work of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo mainly focused on craftsmanship in painting. He mastered the art of Drawing beautiful pictures of Humans in different shapes and forms. Two of his most famous paintings are the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. Leonardo finished the Mona Lisa in 1503 after working on it for four years. Although most people are unshore of who the portrat is some believe it was Mona Lisa Gherardini, the third wife of a wealthy merchant. Leonardo used a technique such as sfumato wich means vanished or evaporated. You can see this in the Louvre Museum in France. Leonardo began working on the Last Supper in 1495 and finished it in 1498. You can find the original Mural in the Convent of Santa Moria Delle Grazie in Milan Italy. It is the most reproduced religous painting of all time. It is a remarkable piece because the disciples exibit very human emotions. It alos is technical because every singal element of the painting directs attention to the mid point or Christ's Head. It is considered to be one of the greatest examples of one point perspective.
I find both of these pieces of art so intersesting because they challenged the Renaissance artist to look art from a whole new perspective. both the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper are examples of Humanism. They both show the deep emotion of the Human spirit.
"Leonardo da Vinci." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/artwork.php?artworkid=1971
http://www.jaydax.co.uk/lastsupper/lastsupper.htm