Renaissance Man

Leonardo da Vinci

n the death of Leonardo da Vinci, a former student of Leonardos, said: The loss of such a man is mourned by all, for it is not in the power of Nature to create another. If you had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with the smartest, most creative person to ever walk the Earth, what would you want to know about? Would you want to know about his accomplishments? Would you want to know how and why he did what he did? Does he have any suggestions for you? Leonardo died over 500 years ago. Hes not available for an interview, but we can still try to find answers to these questions.

The Renaissance Man

Leonardo da Vinci is honoured for his achievements as an artist, scientist, inventor, architect and engineer. Born in 1452, he was the most brilliant star in a galaxy of shining stars during the Renaissance. Leonardo possessed an extraordinary combination of curiosity, thirst for knowledge, and creativity. No other person who has ever lived can match the breadth and depth of Leonardos intellectual and artistic work. He is The Renaissance Man.

He painted two of the best known paintings ever: the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He sought to understand a wide range of things in the natural world. His notebooks are filled with sketches and thoughts about mechanics, anatomy, motion, optics, the flow of liquids, and weapons of war. He developed a plan for the total redesign of the city of Milan as the Ideal City, although it was never constructed. He sculpted the largest ever statue of a horse for a monument, but it was destroyed before being cast into bronze. He studied birds in flight and designed a variety of flying machines, including the helicopter and the parachute.

Da Vinci was well aware of his genius and once said: I wish to work miracles but he was also his greatest critic.

I have offended God and mankind because my work didnt reach the quality it should have.
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Leonardo da Vinci

The Road to the Renaissance

The word renaissance means rebirth. The Renaissance in Europe is the period between the 14th and 16th centuries. It is characterized by the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman cultures. The Renaissance followed the Middle Ages. The term, Middle Ages, was invented during the Renaissance to describe the centuries between their time and that of ancient Greece and Rome.
Greco-Roman: Egyptian mummy portrait in GrecoRoman painting style, 130-160

In 200 AD, most of Europe was ruled by the Roman Empire. But more than a century of civil unrest and invasion by outsiders resulted in a weakened Rome. It had a new capital in what is now the city of Istanbul in Turkey. In 330, Emperor Constantine named his new capital Constantinople. Shortly thereafter he declared that Christianity was the favoured religion of Rome. By 476, the western part of the empire broke up into self-governing regions known as feudalism. Over time, regional powers became what we now recognize as nations. Latin was transformed into modern day languages such as French and Spanish. The Catholic Church, with its headquarters in Rome, was the one institution to link the regional powers that had once been part of the Roman Empire. The Church was very conservative and for a 1,000 years restricted independent thinking. This began to change in the 14th century.

Middle Ages: Madonna and Child, Giotto, 1320-1330

The Renaissance grew first in Italy, then spread throughout the rest of Europe. Ordinary people began reading classic literature and experimenting with new ways of thinking and creating art. Explorers, such as Columbus, expanded the boundaries of the known world. Art, culture and trade flourished. A newly wealthy merchant class challenged the rule of the church. Through a series of wars, city-states merged into nations that were governed by powerful kings who challenged the authority of the church. Old ideas of democracy and the rule by law, borrowed from the Greeks and Romans, began to shape politics. The fundamentals of our modern world were reborn.

Renaissance: Lady with an Ermine, Da Vinci, 1483-1490 Painting in the Middle Ages was very different from the previous Greco-Roman style and that of the Renaissance. The subjects were mostly religious and they were painted flat with little attention to perspective. Realism returned in the Renaissance.

Middle Ages: Castles were built for defence. People were isolated from one another and new ideas. The Renaissance occurred first where large cities developed, trade increased, and new ideas could be expressed openly.

Renaissance: Wealthy merchants built buildings for trade.

The invention of the printing press and moveable type by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440 opened the way for the first time to mass production of books.

Leonardo sought to understand what is beautiful and what is ugly by drawing both. This is a Study of Grotesque Heads from 1490.

Leonardos fresco, The Last Supper, is noted for its brilliance of design, although the painting has not held up well over time. The paint began peeling from the wall soon after it was finished.

Leonardo: The Artist

Leonardo was an illegitimate son. He was not eligible to follow in his fathers trade as a lawyer. Then, as now, the arts had a broader acceptance of people who did not quite fit societys standards. So, Leonardo became an artist. Like most artists of the day, Leonardo started as an apprentice to another artist. More noted as a sculptor, the artist, Verrocchio, is said to have quit painting altogether after seeing how well the young Leonardo painted an angel in his painting The Baptism of Christ. To this, Leonardo responded: It is a poor pupil who does not surpass his master. Painters in the Middle Ages painted everything in a picture with the same level of detail. To create more reality, Leonardo developed the technique of blurring the backgrounds of his pictures. This soft focus is called sfumato. It is one of many innovations in art introduced by Leonardo. Although Leonardo was widely recognized for his unique brilliance as an artist, he developed a reputation as a person who did not complete his work. Consequently, when the Pope gathered the best artists in Italy to help design and create art for Saint Peters Basilica in the Vatican, Leonardo was excluded. Michelangelo, however, designed and painted its magnificent dome. Rejected in Italy, Leonardo found support in France, where he eventually died.

The Mona Lisa (painted by Leonardo between 1503-1506) is the most famous painting in history No one knows who was the model for Mona Lisa, but there are those who suggest that Leonardo, himself, was the model.

The Baptism of Christ by Verrocchio. The kneeling angel on the left was painted by his apprentice, Leonardo da Vinci.

Among the artists who shared the limelight of the Renaissance with Leonardo was the equally famous painter and sculptor, Michelangelo. This 13 high marble statue of David is said to best all previous sculptures for its proportion and beauty. Michelangelo was paid 400 crowns for his work in 1504.

Notice the hazy background in this painting by da Vinci. This is an example of the use of sfumato in painting.

Studies of birds in flight.

Leonardo was the first person to draw parts of the body in cross-section.

Leonardo: The Scientist

During the Middle Ages, most things that people did not understand were explained through religion. The Catholic church sought to silence those who tried to understand and explain the world in natural terms. The Pope banned dissection of humans. Leonardo was one of the first people of the Renaissance to use the modern scientific method. He carefully observed nature, conducted experiments, and arrived at logical conclusions. His research inevitably brought him into conflict with the Church. Leonardo spent his life studying the world around him and filled many notebooks with drawings and ideas stimulated by nature. He studied human anatomy by dissecting cadavers, made detailed notes, and drew numerous illustrations. He studied the flight and anatomy of birds in order to design a flying machine. He was not successful, although he tried out several contraptions. As a scientist, Leonardo made significant contributions in the fields of anatomy, botany, geology and physics.

Leonardo was the first person to note that the number of rings of a tree were the same as its age. He was also the first person to describe the arrangement of leaves in plants.

Helicopter.

Drawing of a flying machine frame.

Leonardo: The Inventor

Leonardo did not seek simply to better understand the world. He wanted to change it through the invention of new and useful machines. His curiosity took him in many directions.

This drawing was found scribbled in one of Leonardos notebooks. It is generally agreed that it was not drawn by Leonardo. Some believe it was drawn by a student of Leonardos. Others believe it is a hoax, drawn by someone else years later. It is known that Da Vinci conceived of a two-wheeled, self-propelled vehicle.

Although some of his inventions, like the extendable ladder, were practical in his time, others, such as the helicopter, would be useful only after hundreds of years later. They required new technologies, such as the internal combustion engine. The long list of Leonardos inventions includes:

Da Vinci designed the first car. It was to have been powered by springs. 500 years after his death, a group of engineers built a model of the vehicle. It worked.

Car and Bicycle Various flying machines Helicopter Adjustable monkey wrench Snorkel and undersea diving suit Folding furniture Olive press Folding boat Revolving stage Three-speed gear shift Machine for cutting screw threads Automated loom and other machines

Leonardo lived hundreds of years before many of his ideas were fully implemented. He was both a man of his time and a man of the future.

From flight to deep sea exploration, much in our modern world was first visualized by Leonardo.

Leonardo: Engineer and Weapons Designer

In 1482, at the age of 30, Leonardo needed a job. His application letter to Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, leads with the statement:

Device for resisting attacks on walls.

I am emboldened without prejudice to anyone else to put myself in communication with your Excellency, in order to acquaint you with my secrets
Leonardo listed among his capabilities: I know methods of destroying any citadel or fortress, even if it is built on rock. I can make covered cars, safe and unassailable, which will enter the serried ranks of the enemy with artillery, and there is no company of men at arms so great as not to be broken by it. I can make cannon, mortars, and light ordinance, of very beautiful and useful shapes, quite different from those in common use. At the end, almost as an afterthought, Leonardo states: Also I can execute sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay, and also painting, in which my work will stand comparison with that of anyone else whoever he may be.

The Multi-Barrel Gun, Leonardos version of a machine gun.

Giant cross-bow.

Tank or armoured car.

Duke Sforza commissioned Leonardo to create an enormous bronze horse for a monument. This is a preliminary sketch for the monument. Leonardo sculpted the 24 high horse from clay, but we do not know exactly what it looked like. Sforza became embroiled in a war and used the bronze for the horse to make weapons. The full-scale clay model of the horse was destroyed by opposition soldiers.

Although Leonardo got the they would have worked. job, he spent most of his time designing pageants, balls and costumes. Such was the lot of the most brilliant person to walk the Earth, that for some amount of time, he was employed by the 15th centurys version of the entertainment industry.

Many of Leonardos weapon designs were fanciful, like this horse-drawn chariot with rotating scythes. It is not clear whether

Leonardo: The Man

Leonardo became the symbol for an age of extraordinary intellectual and artistic accomplishment, the Renaissance. He was the most brilliant artist, scientist, and inventor of his time and perhaps of any time. But he was, of course, also a real manand he was definitely not a perfect man. Born the son of unmarried parents, a wealthy lawyer and a peasant woman, Leonardo could not follow in his fathers profession. Having shown artistic talent as a child, he was apprenticed to a leading artist in Florence, Italy. Young, handsome, charming and talented, not just as an artist but as a musician as well, Leonardo rapidly advanced in the society of Florence. Most artists in Leonardos day needed a wealthy patron to support them. There wasnt a market to sell artwork through galleries or ad agencies. They simply did not exist. Leonardo was not independently wealthy. So he was either supported by a patron or worked on paid projects throughout his life. For a time, Leonardo was in great demand, but he had a problem. He had great difficulty finishing his work. Typically, he would start a project with great energy, and conduct hundreds of experiments, often coming up with brilliant insights. He would work for years on a project and then, seemingly, lose interest and quit. In time, his patrons turned to others, who were more efficient and completed their work. To be human is to be flawed. Perfection is not in our DNA. Leonardo was not an exception. Leonardos notebooks are filled with ideas about machines that were never built and research that was never completed. Often, Leonardo would scribble notes in margins and draw only rough concepts rather than detailed plans. He was afraid that others might steal his ideas, which might explain why he wrote backwards and never organized his papers. If he had, it is possible he would have had much more influence on his world than he did. Leonardos brilliance is greatly admired today, but the people of his time were not able to receive the full fruits of his extraordinary gifts.

Leonardos notebooks included text scribbled backwards and rough sketches, but rarely had the detail needed by others to fully understand his work.

He laboured much more by his word than in fact or by deed.

Vasari criticizing Leonardo for failing to complete commissions.

Think Like Leonardo

Leonardo is the master of Multiple Intelligences. The theory developed by Dr. Howard Gardner states that humans have different ways of being intelligent. Gardner identified seven major intelligences that all people have to varying degree. Unlike most people, Leonardo was a master in all areas. The rest of us are strong in some areas and weak in others. In his book, How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, Michael J. Gelb describes brain research that shows that our brains continue to improve throughout life. Gelb points out that all animals learn by emulating (copying) the behaviours of others. Moreover, he says we can improve ourselves by choosing our role models. As we become adults, we have a unique advantage (over when we were children): we can choose whom and what to imitate. We can also consciously choose new models to replace the ones we outgrow. And who better to learn from than the greatest genius of all timeLeonardo da Vinci particularly in terms of sharpening our senses, expanding our awareness and creatively dealing with the challenges in our lives. Gelb identified some of the qualities that exemplified by Leonardo and are important for our own lives:
Insatiable curiosity about life and an unrelenting quest for learning. Commitment to test knowledge through experience. Continual refinement of the senses to enliven all experiences. Willingness to embrace ambiguity. Development of a balance between scientific and artistic thinking. Cultivation of grace, fitness and poise. Appreciation for the relatedness of all things systems thinking.

Multiple Intelligences
Dr. Howard Gardner identified seven types of intelligence. These are listed below along with people who are good examples of this type of intelligence.
Logical-Mathematical (Isaac Newton, Marie Curie) Verbal-Linguistic (William Shakespeare, Emily Dickenson) Spatial-Mechanical (Buckminster Fuller, Georgia OKeeffe) Musical (Mozart, Ella Fitzgerald) Bodily-Kinesthetic (Mohammad Ali, Nancy Greene) Interpersonal-Social (Queen Elizabeth I, Nelson Mandela) Intrapersonal (Viktor Frankl, Mother Teresa)

The Renaissance Person Today

Times have changed. The well-rounded, balanced, and highly engaged person of the 21st century is interested in many things that did not exist in Leonardos time. In addition to having a broad understanding of science, history and the arts, the Renaissance Person of today likely has many of the following qualities:
Concern about the social conditions of people. Interest in how government works and how decisions are made. Technology literacy, including the ability to use computers, digital equipment and the Internet for work, study and fun. Global understanding and appreciation for different cultures. Acceptance of the differences between people and disapproval of racism, sexism, homophobia, and religious intolerance. Interest in and ability to continually improve ones inner and outer self through study and exploration.

How many of these qualities do you have? What additional qualities do you think are important for todays Renaissance Person?

Leonardo da Vinci | Key Terms

characterize emulate flourish homophobia intellectual merchant class Middle Ages patron Renaissance sfumato Describe the qualities of something. Strive to equal or match the qualities of someone by imitating them. Gain in wealth or stature. Fear or dislike of homosexual people or homosexuality. Involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct. A group of people involved in the buying and selling of goods, rather than farming, or professional positions, for example. A period of time between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. Someone who buys goods or supports someone because of their talents. A period of cultural rebirth after the Middle ages, which lasted from the 14th century to the middle of the 17th century. A technique in painting where the background of a picture is shown in hazy lines and colours to increase the effect of 3 dimensions.

Discussion Points
1. A Renaissance person is someone who has many interests and talents. Can you name a few people today who meet that definition? 2. Leonard was a brilliant thinker, but he did not make a great deal of difference in his time. Why do you think that was? What advice would you have given him if you were his friend. 3. Can you think of people who show great promise but ultimately fail because of weaknesses they cant overcome? 4. Of all of Leonardos inventions, which one would you have liked him to have focused on and brought to completion? Do you think if he had done so it would have changed his time? Would it have had a long term impact and changed our time as well?
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