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Leonardo da Vinci: 5 Facts You Might Not Know
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was a painter, sculptor, architect, writer, anatomist, geologist, astronomer, botanist, inventor, engineer and scientist – the epitome of a Renaissance man.
Widely considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time, his most famous works included ‘the Mona Lisa’, ‘the Last Supper’ and ‘the Vitruvian Man’.
Although he has since been celebrated for his technological ingenuity, Leonardo’s scientific genius largely went undiscovered and unappreciated during his time. As Sigmund Freud wrote:
He was like a man who awoke too early in the darkness, while the others were all still asleep.
1. His name was not really “Leonardo da Vinci”
Leonardo’s full name at birth was Lionardo di ser Piero da Vinci, which means “Leonardo, (son) of ser Piero from Vinci.”
To his contemporaries he was known just as Leonardo or “Il Florentine” – since he lived near Florence.
2. He was an illegitimate child – fortunately
Born in a farmhouse outside the village of Anchiano in Tuscany on 14/15 April 1452, Leonardo was the child of Ser Piero, a wealthy Florentine notary, and an unmarried peasant woman named Caterina.
The two had 12 other children with other partners – but Leonardo was the only child they had together.
His illegitimacy meant he was not expected to follow his father’s profession and become notary. Instead, he was free to pursue his own interests and go into the creative arts.
3. He received little formal education
Leonardo was largely self-educated and received no formal education beyond basic reading, writing and mathematics.
His artistic talents were evident from an early age. At aged 14 he began an apprenticeship with the noted sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio, of Florence.
In Verrocchio’s workshop, he was exposed to theoretical training and a wide range of technical skills including metalwork, carpentry, drawing, painting and sculpting.
4. His first commissions were never completed
In 1478, Leonardo received his first independent commission: to paint an alterpiece for the Chapel of St. Bernard in Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio.
In 1481, he was commissioned to paint ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ for the monastery San Donato in Florence.
However he was forced to abandon both commissions when he relocated to Milan to work for the Sforza family. Under the patronage of the Sforzas, Leonardo painted ‘The Last Supper’ in the refectory of the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Leonardo would spend 17 years in Milan, leaving only after Duke Ludovico Sforza’s fall from power in 1499.
5. He was an accomplished musician
Perhaps predictably for an individual who excelled in everything he tried, Leonardo had a gift for music.
According to his own writings, he believed music to be closely related to the visual arts as it was similarly dependent upon one of the 5 senses.
This post was inspired by one of my personal heroes he inspired me a lot I hope you liked this post and as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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