Leonardo Da Vinci Case

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Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci was a self taught genius who lived through experience and experiences were the focal points of his life. Even today, the world wonders and tries to understand the technology he foresaw 500 years ago. Leonardo Da Vinci, using two simple tools a pen and a notebook carried forward the evolution of technology, art and humanism. He did this through his sketches and writings. His notes have changed humanity's way of thinking, seeing and judging humanity and freedom. This paper seeks to give a discussion of Leonardo's life and work.

Early life of the artist

Leonardo Da Vinci lived during the Renaissance (a period of Western European history ranging from the early 14th century to the late 16th century). Leonardo Da Vinci was known as an architect, painter, sculpture, scientist and an engineer. His inventions and influence have in the recent past grown in perceived significance to the present world. He was an Italian Renaissance sculpture and painter who lived a life of "unquenchable curiosity." He was born on 15th April 1452 in Vinci, outside Florence, Italy. He was the son of Ser Piero and Caterina (Bambach, Stern & Manges 227). Growing up in Vinci, Leonardo had access to scholarly literature and was exposed to the Italy's rich painting culture. At fifteen years of age, his father sent him to a Florentine workshop where he demonstrated his outstanding talent. His first big break in art was the painting of 'The Baptism of Christ", a painting carried out in Verrocchio's workshop. The painting proved that he was better than his master and at one point almost made Verrocchio decide that he was never gong to paint again (Cremante 68).

In 1482, Leonardo entered the service of the Duke of Milan after leaving France. He spent seventeen years in Milan and left in 1499 after the fall of Duke Sforza. During his time in Milan, Leonardo attained many different pinnacles of artistic achievement. The Duke kept Leonardo busy sculpturing and painting for court festivals and at the same time working on machinery and weapon design. Between 1485 and 1500 Leonardo studied a variety of subjects including nature, architecture and geometry and it was during this period that he produced his first anatomical studies.

Leonardo and Michelangelo

Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci were both gifted artists, the most outstanding artists of their time (Day & McNeil 120). They were amazing painters, sculptures and architects. They left amazing work that could be used to compare their creativity, ability and skills. Michelangelo started his artistic career at the age of twelve. Although he claimed he was self-taught, it is believed that Michelangelo was taught by Domenico Ghirlandaio as both evidence and influence are seen in his work (Bartlett 284).

Michelangelo used sketches in his work and his attention to details is incredibly precise, shown especially in the veins in