Introduction
Leonardo da Vinci was a renowned Italian polymath. He is well known as a sculptor, painter, writer or an architect. In his artwork, he is mainly known for his painting skills and creativity. People describe his work as artwork built on “feverishly inventive imagination”. This signifies the originality that goes with the artwork of the individual. From his tender age, Leonardo has been defined of painting expertise since his birth. This is because; the first school that he attended was in a studio of a renowned painter. Therefore, Leonardo had been exposed to painting at an extremely tender age. This nurtured his talent that defines his creativity in painting. Attractive artwork is defined on originality, creativity and message delivery by the artist.
Characteristics of art by Leonardo da Vinci
The main artwork that Leonardo undertook is painting. For his work to be defined as original, creative and rich in message, Leonardo hose to use certain traits in his work. These have made his work unique in terms of the characteristics that go with the artwork.
In all paintings, Leonardo began with developing a detailed under-painting that was ensured to be brown or neutral gray, later he would apply the needed colors on top in transparent glazes. Apportion of the under-painting would be seen through the layers, faintly trying to construct form. On his palette, he would employ muted earthy browns, blues, and greens within a narrow tonal array (Ladwein, 2006). This was extremely significant in defining the sense of unity among the elements that were used to make the painting. A good example of the artwork that may be defined by these colors is the painting on the Mona Lisa.
The other characteristic that defined his work is the soft, gentle lighting that he applied to his paintings. He considered the trait for light in any painting crucial in making the image or the painting attractive. In most of his human paintings, facial features were not defined strongly, but they were relayed as soft as well as blended variations in color and tone. The distance from the painting defined the brightness or darkness of the painting. Further distance dictated darker paintings, which were more monochromatic than if the objects were closer.
The style of using softening edges and colors with dark glazes is referred to as sfumato, which is an Italian name for smoke. Developing colors by applying glazes develops deep paintings that cannot be obtained by using a paint mixed on a palette. As support to the above statement, Leonardo said “When a transparent color lies over another color differing from it, a compound color is composed which differs from each of the stark colors” (Ladwein, 2006).
Significant Artwork by Leonardo da Vinci
There are several artworks that are associated to the hard work and originality of Leonardo. Through excellent presentation of his work, the paintings that he presents are well known in the world; in museums as well as among people. There are several examples of Leonardo’s Artwork.
Mona Lisa
Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa between 1503 and 1504 in a city known as Florence in Italy. The idea of developing this painting was as a result of the death of the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The name was coined from Madonna, which means my lady in Italian and the name of the lady who was known as Lisa Gherardini (Kalz, 2005). The attractiveness and the meaning behind the painting made common among people and it was stolen several times.
Immediately it was developed, the painting was adopted by King Francis 1 of France making the painting become French Republic’s property. The painting has been mainly portrayed in Musee du Louvre Museum in Paris. However, in 2005 the painting was relocated to a new place in the Salle des Etats museum. The painting is presented in a climate controlled cabinet made of bullet-proof glass. At this location, around 6 million individuals view the painting every year (Kalz, 2005). Mona Lisa is a painting made of different colors that are uniquely matched to give an outline of the anticipated painting (Vinci, 1986). This makes the painting attractive to most people thus attracting the large number of viewers.
The Adoration of the Magi
This painting was one of the earliest paintings that were developed by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is formed on a foreground which forms a triangular shape with the magi adoring in the form of kneeling. The painting also includes a wreck of pagan building, where there are workmen observed repairing the building. The painting also contains an outline of a rocky landscape and a fighting horseback (Vinci, 2005).
This is another artwork that signifies creativity and originality of Leonardo da Vinci. The painting is extremely significant in its setup as it aims to relay given message. This is a non-material element made of creative mixture of colors.
The painting is displayed in Uffizi museum in Florence region. It is also displayed in a clear glass pinned on a wall (Kalz, 2005). This gives visitors a chance to view the painting from time to time. The painting also attracts a good deal of viewers.
Personal ideas on the Artwork
Leonardo da Vinci is unique in his work. He defines objects through the originality that exists in his minds on drawing and delivery of certain messages. The Mona Lisa and the adoration of Magi are ample examples of Leonardo’s artwork. The first view of each of the artwork defines some uniqueness in the mind.
In its course, Mona Lisa painting is an extremely famous painting. It is the hope of anyone who has ever heard of this painting that one day they will view the painting. Mona Lisa signifies historical leadership where leaders were respected with their wives recognized as equally unique and significant in the leadership.
The painting is characterized with skilled decoration which makes the most people including me attracted to the painting. However, upon attraction by the painting one discovers that the painting carries along with it unique message on the significance of a wife in the leadership of the husband. I had always heard of the painting among local artist which developed the idea in my mind of wanting to know more about the painting.
On the other hand, the adoration of magi is equally attractive. The painting also contains quality decorations which makes the painting famous among people. The painting contains various objects which have meanings depending on how they are drawn. The Magi is a representation of leadership and existence of powerful individuals in the society. This makes the painting attractive to me as it is full of lessons on the kind of society that Leonardo tries to define.
The decorative nature of Leonardo’s work develops an interest among viewers making them develop some attachment to his artwork. The two pieces of art by Leonardo develops positive attraction for me to the rest of Leonardo’s artwork.
Interrelationship between the artwork and the culture of the artist
Like any other piece of art, Leonardo’s Artwork makes some representation of the society in which the artist grows up. There are several cultural values that may be depicted from the artwork by Leonardo.
The two paintings represent some uniqueness in respect for leadership among the members of the society. The Mona Lisa painting represents the wife of a leader in the society. It shows that the leaders as in the hearts of many leaders in the society (Kalz, 2005). This is because the painting becomes extremely famous among the members of the society as well as foreigners. The wife of a leader in the region was equally significant as husband and was accorded to maximum respect like the husband. The adoration of Magi is a sign of the respect that the society had to leaders or senior people in the society (Zollner, 2006).
Further, the adoration of Magi signifies that the society has respect for purity during marriage and do not support immorality. This is signified through the adoration by the Magi to the virgin as she gives birth whiles the people surrounding her stand. There are trees in the painting that represent different cultural values. For example, the palm tree evident in the painting is a sign of respect for the ancient Rome, which is the origin of the definition of Christianity. The seeds of the tree signify continuity of Christianity and define Christ as the king of kings (Zollner, 2006).
Conclusion
Leonardo da Vinci defines his artwork out of creativity and originality in painting representation. Through the artwork on the Mona Lisa and The adoration of the Magi, the artist defines attractiveness of certain museums as people try to fetch unique definition and presentation of cultural values through paintings. The decorations also attract people to the museums to witness the adventure in art.
Work Cited
Kalz, Jill. The Mona Lisa. North Mankato, MN.: Creative Education, 2005. Print.
Ladwein, Michael. Leonardo da Vinci, the Last Supper: a cosmic drama and an act of redemption. Forest Row, [UK: Temple Lodge, 2006. Print.
Vinci, Leonardo. "Leonardo da Vinci: The Adoration of the Magi." Art and the Bible - artbible.info. N.p., 23 Feb. 2005. Web. 3 Mar. 2013. http://www.artbible.info/art/large/230.html .
Vinci, Leonardo . "Mona Lisa Mania."Mona Lisa Mania. N.p., 12 Sept. 1986. Web. 3 Mar. 2013. http://www.monalisamania.com/ .
Zöllner, Frank. Léonard de Vinci, 1452-1519. Köln: Taschen, 2006. Print.
