The Genius of Leonardo Da Vinci

The lifetime accomplishments of Leonardo daVinci are not only astonishing but truly inspiring. Leonardo made his mark as an Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer, and scientist. The versatility and creative power of Leonardo mark him as a supreme example of renaissance genius. He depicted in his drawings, with scientific precision and consummate artistry, subjects ranging from flying machines to caricatures. He also executed intricate anatomical studies of people, animals, and plants. The richness and originality of intellect expressed in his notebooks reveal one of the greatest minds of all time.

It was the period of the renaissance when Leonardo da Vinci was born on the 15th of April in 1452. He was born in a farmhouse in Anchiano, which is 3 km away from Vinci. His family had lived in this area since the 13th century. His father, Ser Piero, was twenty-five and a public notary when he was born. His mothers name is Catarina. Her first name is all we know as of right now. Leonardo lived in Anchiano for about five years until he settled to Vinci to live with his Grandfather. From this time he was a member of his fathers family, but he was never legitimated. Leonardo attended school and lived in Vinci until 1466. At the age of 14 Leonardo moved to Florence where he began an apprenticeship in the workshop of Verrocchio. Andrea del Verrocchio was, at the time, the most gifted artist in Florence. Leonardo worked at the workshop with some other famous artists like Botticelli, Perugino and Lornzo di Credi. In June 1472 Leonardo was listed with a membership in the painters guild of Florence an that ended his apprenticeship. But, Leonardo didn't leave the workshop of Verrocchio and the end of his apprenticeship.

In 1473 Leonardo completed his first known drawing "The Arno Valley". This was a pen and ink drawing of a valley shaped by the river Arno. This drawing reflects the ingenious mind of Leonardo. It is drawn with aerial perspective by allowing the color of the paper to dominate and less details as the depth increases. This effect is later called "the perspective of disappearance". In 1475 Leonardo assisted his master Verrocchio on the painting "Baptism of Christ", which was commissioned by the monks of San Salvi near Florence. The angel kneeling at the far left, parts of the landscape and the body of Christ are considered to be painted by Leonardo. It was reported about this painting that the work of Leonardo far surpassed that of his master. This was the reason that Verrochio would never touch paints again, he was so ashamed that a boy understood their use better than he did. This was Verrochio's last known painting. It is believed that Leonardo had his own workshop between 1476 and 1478. During this time he received at least two orders for his work. Leonardo continued to create memorable works of art throughout his lifetime but none were as famous as the "Mona Lisa".

King Francis I. Invited Leonardo da Vinci to spend the last span of his life in Amboise at the court of France. In autumn 1516 Leonardo arrived in Amboise. In his baggage was the famous painting "Mona Lisa". The portrait full of mystery and secrets is painted on a 77x53 cm large poplar-wood. It is the most famous work of Leonardo da Vinci. Originally the painting was larger than it is today. Two columns, one on the left and the other on the right have been cut. That is why it is not easy to recognize that Mona Lisa is sitting on a terrace. It is supposed that one of the noblest citizens of Florence ordered a portrait of his third wife from Leonardo. Leonardo started his work in 1503, at the time Mona Lisa was 24 years old. He worked on the portrait for the next four years. But when Leonardo left Florence in 1507 he did not deliver the painting, he kept it for himself. Some believe that he did not finish the painting just yet. Others believe that he loved the painting too much to let it go. Then Leonardo sold the painting to King Francis I., who bought it for the castle in Amboise. After the revolution in France the painting got a new