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Leonardo Da Vinci Biography
Leonardo Da Vinci was a Florentine artist, whose creative skills extended over the diverse domains of being known as a painter, sculptor, architect, engineer and scientist. He was a man with a unique amalgamation of aesthetic and scientific instincts. He not only influenced Italian art, but also left his impression in the fields of anatomy, optics and hydraulics. |
Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci from an illegitimate relationship between his parents, Ser Piero, a notary, and Caterina, an ordinary peasant. The responsibility of his upbringing fell on his father, since his mother tied the wedlock with another man. Leonardo is known to have seventeen half sisters and brothers.
Even as a young child, Leonardo obtained intellectual exposure in the Vinci household. At the age of fifteen, he commenced work as an apprentice in the famous workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence. He worked here for a span of five years from 1470 to 1475 producing spectacular work. The streaks of his enormous caliber were evident even at this stage so much so that ultimately his talent seemed to surpass his master, Verrochio, who pledged never to hold the brush again.
In 1478, Leonardo became a master of his own will, thereby working independently. However, his initial work was somehow never executed. In 1482, he took up service under the Duke of Milan. The seventeen years that he spent in Milan witnessed Leonardo soaring to greater heights in the field of art and science. Apart from painting, the Duke furnished a platform for Vinci to design weapons, buildings and machinery.
From 1485 to 1490, Leonardo was grossly involved in architecture and construction. During this period, he also ventured into human anatomical studies. Although he had a knack of many diverse fields, it was this very trait of his that led him to leave many of his works incomplete. His mind wavered into so many aspects that he could finally only complete six works in a span of seventeen years, which include ‘The Last Supper’ and ‘The Virgin on the Rocks’. He left many of his paintings and projects incomplete. From 1490 to 1495, he concentrated on four major themes comprising of painting, architecture, the elements of mechanics and human anatomy.
In 1503, Leonardo started work on ‘Mona Lisa’. The very next year, his father expired. This triggered off a brawl between the brothers and sisters over the issue of inheritance. From 1513 to 1516, he worked in Rome. His anatomical studies suffered a great deal as the Pope stopped him from dissecting cadavers.
Vinci suffered from paralysis of the right hand during the last years of life. However, this handicap did not dissuade him from drawing or teaching. Leonardo breathed his last on May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France with supposedly King Francis at his side.
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