| continued from previous page) FIRST BREAK FOR LEONARDO DA VINCI Leonardo was given the best education that Florence could offer. His family owned scholarly texts and great books of his time. Intellectually he developed quite well apart from his artistic talents. He was also good at learning music though not much has been known about is musical skills. When he was about 15, his father apprenticed him to the workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence. Even as an apprentice, Leonardo demonstrated his colossal talent. His first big break was to paint an angel in Verrochio's "Baptism of Christ". Verrocchio was not a painter but a sculptor. In Verrocchio's workshop Leonardo learnt many activities, from the painting of altarpieces and panel pictures to the creation of large sculptural projects in marble. He assisted Verrocchio in the preliminary studies and researches for the famous statue of the condottiere Colleone. Leonardo stayed in Verrocchio's workshop until 1477. Leonardo also worked at the garden of the Medicis, where they had made a museum of fine arts. They had a huge collection of antiquities, the foremost in the world at that time. From 1478 Leonardo started receiving assignments for paintings. He received his first assignment to paint an altarpiece for the chapel of Palazzo Vecchio, the Florentine town hall, which was unfortunately never executed. The Adoration of the Magi (begun 1481, Uffizi), left unfinished, was ordered in 1481 for the Monastery of San Donato a Scopeto, Florence. His other works were Benois Madonna (c. 1478, Hermitage, Saint Petersburg), the portrait Ginerva de' Benci (c. 1474, National Gallery, Washington, D.C.), and the Saint Jerome (c. 1481, Pinacoteca, Vatican) which was also left unfinished. Little is known about the unfinished works of his youth. The "Madonna and Child", and the bust of St. John the Baptist have earned a name in the list of his works. The face of the angel in the "Baptism of Christ" , the delicate miniature "Annunciation" of the Louvre and the portrait of a young woman in the Liechtenstein Gallery at Vienna are some of his works. Apart from these, two small terra-cottas in the South Kensington Museum, London are some of the masterpieces to his credit. Milanese Period (1483-99) LEONARDO'S SERVICE AT THE DUKE OF MILAN In 1482 Leonardo entered the service of the duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza abandoning his first assignment in Florence, "The Adoration of the Magi". He spent 17 years in Milan and it was during this period that Leonardo earned a name both through his scientific and artistic achievements During the early Milanese period Leonardo worked on one of his most famous paintings "The Virgin of the Rocks". From 1495 to 1497 he worked on the world famous" The Last Supper," a mural in the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan. But unfortunately the use of oil on dry plaster proved a failure and by 1500 it had started wearing out. Though attempts had been made, to restore it nothing much could be done to revive it. Yet little of what is left of the masterpiece still earns immense praise and awe even today. His largest assignment was for a huge bronze monument to Francesco Sforza, father of Ludovico. Unfortunately in December 1499, Leonardo had to abondon the statue as French forces drove the Sforza family from Milan. Later it was also destroyed by French archers. From 1485 to 1490, Leonardo produced studies on nature, flying machines, geometry, mechanics, municipal construction and canals. He served as chief engineer in the duke's numerous military enterprises and was active also as an architect. His studies contain designs for advanced weapons, including a tank and other war vehicles, various combat devices, and even submarines. During this period, Leonardo also produced his first anatomical studies. As an architect he designed everything from churches to fortresses. LEONARDO DA VINCI AND HIS TALENTS Leonardo's work covered four main themes: painting, architecture, the elements of mechanics, and human anatomy. Apart from the above Leonardo was also an accomplished musician. He was well versed with the art of improvising verses while accompanying on a lute of his own invention. Leonardo was such a multi talented man that it is difficult to describe him and his numerous interests. He was in such a wide range of activities that he failed to finish what he started. Art and sculpture were just a part of his activities. As a scientist his discoveries in meteorology and geology and the effect of the moon on the tides was remarkable. He contributed in the science of Hydraulics by devising the Hydrometer. As an engineer he invented a large number of ingenious machines and flying devices. This shows his remarkable knowledge in the principles of aerodynamics. He spent most of his time researching on the facts of the earth and other heavenly bodies, the mysteries of nature and the wonderful human and animal anatomy. As an architect none of his building projects was actually carried out although he demonstrated his mastery in geometry and related subjects through his drawings. Many of his drawings reveal his brilliant draftsmanship and his mastery of the anatomy of humans, animals, and plant life,. Leonardo, carried out studies on the circulation of blood and the action of the eye by dissecting human and animal dead bodies. Despite the fact that dead body dissection was not permitted he carried out his experiments only to learn more. He devised the theories on the muscular movements of the cardiac valves with great accuracy. His studies on embryology laid the foundations for human anatomy. As a botanist he formulated the laws of the alternation of leaves and the science of trunks. Between 1490 and 1495 he elaborately recorded his studies and projects. These studies and sketches were collected into various manuscripts, which are now preserved in big museums. He had a unique ability of writing from right to left, which could be only deciphered by looking at its mirror image. He applied the methods of abbreviation and cryptography while writing. He was left-handed and his notes were not easily comprehensible, intended for his own use. Last but not the least Leonardo was a man of sturdy build and impressive looks. He was tall, handsome and persuasive in conversation, He was an accomplished gentleman and a philosopher during his later years. After the invasion by the French and Ludovico Sforza's fall from power in 1499, Leonardo was left unemployed and he worked and traveled throughout Italy taking up different projects for a number of employers. Over the next 16 years, Leonardo worked and traveled throughout Italy for many employers. Nomadic period (1500-19) of Leonardo Da Vinci The last twenty years of his life were spent in making new inventions and other scientific activities, which were not completed. During these years Florence (1501-06) and Milan (1506-13) were the only two places where he carried out his activities. He traveled all round Italy but spent most of his time in Florence and Milan. Finally in 1516 he come to France after King Francis invited him. Finally he left Italy forever only to spend his last life there. In early 1500 Leonardo went to Mantua from Milan. He was appointed to sketch the portrait of the Marchesa Isabella d'Este- a cartoon . In 1501 he went to Venice and then to Florence. Later he entered the service of Cæsar Borgia duke of Romagna and son and chief general of Pope Alexander VI; as military engineer. During 1503 he was also a member of a group of artists who were to decide on the proper location for the David (1501-04, Accademia, Florence), the famous marble statue by the Italian sculptor Michelangelo, Around this time he also served as an engineer in the war against Pisa. He designed a bridge to span the "golden horn" in Constantinople. When Florence won in the war Leonardo began to design a decoration for the great hall of the Palazzo Vecchio. The painting was the Battle of Anghiari, and many others including a full sized cartoon which was never finished. During this period, Leonardo painted several portraits, but the only one that survives is the incomparable Mona Lisa (1503-06, Louvre). It is also known as La Gioconda, after the name of the woman's husband. Leonardo carried it with him wherever he settled. A year later Leonardo lost his father Ser Piero. His half brothers and sisters divided amongst themselves the inherited property depriving Leonardo of his share. However Leonardo recovered his share later when he inherited a portion of his uncle's property. In 1507 he was the court painter to King Louis XII of France. From 1513 to 1516, Leonardo worked in Rome taking up a variety of projects and workshops for the Pope. He worked on an equestrian figure for a monument to Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, commander of the French forces in the city. Unfortunately the project was not completed. From 1514 to 1516 Leonardo lived in Rome under the patronage of Pope Leo X. He continued working and researching on human anatomy and physiology though he was not permitted to dissect dead bodies by the Pope. LAST YEARS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI He was offered the title of Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of the King by Francis I in France in March 1516. His spent his last years at a manor house near the royal chateau at Amboise, provided by Francis I . |
| ---painters--- |
| Leonardo da Vinci |
| famous paintings |
| Van gogh, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne, Monet Gauguin, Hokusai, Bierstadt, Homer, Goya, Mark Raphael, Leonardo da vinci |
| Michel Angelo, Dutch master, Caravaggio, Caillebotte, Vaneyck, Whistler, Cassatt, Botticelli Seurat, David, Turner |
| We included the famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci. Watch video of paintings by world's famous painters. Video and slideshow of their famous paintings can be seen and downloaded free. Video clips |