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Introduction
There is no limit to what human intellect can achieve. This mindset is particularly evident during the Renaissance; a period in European history wherein there was a significant ‘rebirth’ or revival of classical work. Scholars believe that the Renaissance started sometime in the 13th century and ended at the onset of the postmodern era in the late 16th century. During this period, Europeans became increasingly interested in the arts, architecture and science of ancient Greek and Rome. The significance of the Renaissance is that it ended the long period of cultural darkness that characterized the Middle Ages. The spirit of the Renaissance took many forms. As observed by scholars, the Renaissance culminated as a series of “social, political, and intellectual transformations” that gave birth to major cultural developments. One of the most important segments of human culture that benefitted from the Renaissance is the field of arts. During this time, significant development in the field of arts can be observed. One of the most significant artists during this period is Leonardo da Vinci. A well rounded artist, da Vinci is celebrated for being a painter and sculptor. But aside from being an artist, da Vinci is also an architect, an engineer and a scientist. A quintessential genius, Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most influential artists of his time. His contributions in the field of painting as well as in anatomical, optical and hydraulic sciences remained influential even after his death. Leonardo da Vinci became the epitome of the Renaissance man; a person whose versatility and expertise is not only confined to one subject matter, but rather a man that is well-rounded and limitless in his capacity to acquire knowledge and abilities.
Background of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Florence, Italy; a period of time that most scholars refer to as the culmination of the High Renaissance. Although Leonardo da Vinci childhood is unremarkable, nevertheless it was an important formational stage of his life as an artist. Leonardo was a son of a prominent notary and landlord, Ser Piero and a young peasant, Caterina. During the 15th century, Italy, particularly the city of Florence, is a major artistic and intellectual center of Europe. Coming from a wealthy Italian family, the young Leonardo was able to get the best education available during his time that constitutes reading, writing and arithmetic. During the time, Florence, Italy is one of the centers of European Renaissance movement. For the same reason, at an early age, it is likely that Leonardo was already exposed to classical art. At fifteen, Leonardo apprenticed in the workshop of the artist Andrea del Verrocchio where he learned not only how to paint and sculpt, but also on how to work and create mechanical objects . Under the guidance of Verrocchio, Leonardo was exposed to varied artistic activities such as the painting of religious pieces as well as the sculpting of massive statues made of marble and bronze. In 1472, Leonardo became a member of the artist guild of Florence while he was still Verrocchio’s assistant. Despite his genius in science and mathematics, Leonardo did not try to learn mathematics and geometry until he was 30 years old and his knowledge on technical drawings is most likely self-taught.
Artworks of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo’s work as a commissioned artist did not come until he was 30 years old when he was tasked to paint for the Monastery of San Donato a Scopeto and the Saint Bernard Chapel. These paintings, however, were not finished as Leonardo left Florence and moved to Milan in 1482. His decision to leave Florence may have been influenced by his desire to seek a more intellectual endeavor. Leonardo, for instance, worked as an engineer and architect for the Duke of Milan; during which, he became the principal consultant for several architectural and mechanical structures. While in Milan, Leonardo was able to complete many of his renowned paintings; one of which is ‘The Virgin of the Rocks’ and ‘The Last Supper.’ One of Leonardo’s largest commissions while he was in Milan was the colossal bronze monument of Francesco Sforza. The statue was not completed because the Sforza family was forced out of Milan by the French in 1499. The year after, Leonardo returned to Florence and entered the service of Cesare Borgia, the Duke of Romagna as the duke’s engineer and architect. It was during his return in Florence when he painted one of his most controversial masterpieces; the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo in the Louvre or popularly known as ‘Mona Lisa’.
Scientific Contributions
Leonardo da Vinci was able to create realistic art primarily because of his keen observation of nature. His portraits and sculptures, for instance, reveal his mastery of the human anatomy. Leonardo gives importance to details and knows the value of accurate scientific observation. Leonardo’s scientific works may have revolutionized science. Unfortunately, though, many of his works were kept hidden and were not revealed until more than a century after his death. In his notebooks, da Vinci kept a record of his insights and observations of the world around him. Leonardo was particularly interested in human anatomy. He believes, for instance, that every painter should know not only the obvious features of man, but also his inner structure. The Vitruvian man, for example, is Leonardo’s attempt to discover the normal proportions and movements of the human body. Apart from human physiology, Leonardo is also deeply interested in physics and mechanics. While under the employment of the Duke of Milan and the Duke of Romagna, for example, Leonardo was able to study and apply the principles of hydraulics and mechanics. Many of his sketches shows his deep knowledge in mechanical principles. He designed, for instance, mechanical devices that were beyond his time such as a prototype for a modern tank and helicopter. Most remarkably, Leonardo da Vinci was able to significantly advance the science of painting and visual arts in an unprecedented scale. His ideas on perspective, proportion, distance, depth and the modulation of light have laid the framework of the modern science of painting.
Significance of Leonardo the Vinci
Humanism or the philosophy that emphasize human worth, is the major focus of the Renaissance movement. This philosophy reflected in many works of art during the period, particularly in the artwork of Leonardo da Vinci. One of the many things that set Leonardo da Vinci apart from other artists during his time, though, is his penchant for mathematics and science and his ability to apply this knowledge into his art. Leonardo, for instance, used extensively geometric proportions in his art works. The portrait of Mona Lisa, for example, has been drawn with the golden ratio; a geometric ratio that is used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in their sculptures and architectures. The golden ratio can be derived by dividing a line into two parts. One part of which is longer than the other in such a way that when the smaller part is divided by the longer part, the ratio would be equal to, approximately, 1.618 . According to experts, if a rectangle is drawn around the face of Mona Liza, it can be observed that the proportion of the rectangle coincides with the golden ratio . Leonardo also used the golden ratio in creating the Vitruvian Man. The Vitruvian is Leonardo’s attempt to study human anatomy and one of its most notable features is the use of the golden ratio from the top of the head of the Vitruvian man to his navel and from his navel into the bottom of his feet. ‘The Last Supper’ was also drawn using this proportion. Leonardo da Vinci was also among the first artists to master the art of perspective in his paintings, drawings and sketches. He was, in fact, the first to introduce a technique called atmospheric perspective wherein an illusion of depth is created by painting distant objects as seen in real life, which is paler and smaller than near objects. Many Renaissance masters such as Raphael, del Sarto and Bartolommeo learned this technique from Leonardo.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greatest quintessential artists that ever lived in the history of mankind. Born in a time where a revival of classical art was at its peak, Leonardo characterized the curiosity and objectivity of European artists during the Renaissance. Among his most notable masterpieces were his paintings of ‘The Last Supper’ and ‘Mona Lisa,’ which, until today, have become a subject of awe and admiration. But Leonardo was not only an artist; he was also a scientist, engineer and architect. Many of his controversial works, for instance, is related to science and engineering, particularly in the field of human anatomy and mechanics. His vast knowledge in human anatomy enabled him to create artistic masterpieces that involve human portraits while his keen observation on the nature of light and optics enabled him to create life-like illusions in his paintings. Leonardo da Vinci took art into a different level by establishing the underlying scientific principles of optical illusion and applying it in his paintings. Like many great geniuses in history, Leonardo da Vinci helped advance human culture into greater heights particularly in the visual arts.
Works Cited
Cornell University. Φ: The Golden Ratio. Spring 2012. November 2015 <http://www.math.cornell.edu/~araymer/Puzzle/GoldenRatio.pdf>.
Encyclopedia Britannica. Renaissance. 2016. May 2016 <http://www.britannica.com/event/Renaissance>.
Glydon, N. The Mathematics of Art. n.d. May 2016 <http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/beyond/articles/Art/art1.html>.
Heydenreich, L.H. Leonardo da Vinci. 2016. May 2016 <http://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci>.
Parveen, N. Mathematics and Art. n.d. May 2016 <http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emat6680/parveen/Math_and_Art.htm>.
Zollner, F. Leonardo's Portrait of Mona Lisa Del Giocondo. n.d. May 2016 <http://www.gko.uni-leipzig.de/fileadmin/user_upload/kunstgeschichte/pdf/zoellner/Publikationen/unselbst_Publi/Loenardo_Mona-Lisa.pdf>.
