The Great Leonardo Da Vinci
His full name is Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, but most simply know him as Da Vinci or Leonardo Da Vinci. He was born on April 15, 1452 and died May 2, 1519.
Most know him as a famous painter, but he was so much more.
Three reasons to love Da Vinci
He was centuries ahead of his time.
He is one of those people that is incredibly multi-talented.
The Name Da Vinci
Your first impression
The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci
A little history on the legend
At age 14 (although I've also read 17), Leonardo and his father moved to Florence, where he apprenticed to Andrea di Cione, known as Verrocchio. Among the painters apprenticed or associated with the workshop and also to become famous, were Ghirlandaio, Perugino, Botticelli, and Lorenzo di Credi.In the studios of men like Verrocchio's, artists were regarded primarily as craftsmen and only the master such as Verrocchio had social standing in the community. It was when the student created their "masterwork" that they could themselves be considered a master.
Leonardo would have been exposed to a vast range of technical skills and had the opportunity to learn drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, leather working, carpentry, and mechanics. The study obviously included artistic skills of drawing, painting, sculpting and modeling.
Leonardo Da Vinci was a quick study and his genius soon eclipsed that of his master and by age 20 he joined the painter's guild of Florence. From there he began getting commissions to work on projects from various people of high standing and wealth throughout current day Italy.
Da Vinci Trivia
A little known bit of trivia about Leonardo Da Vinci was that he may have been dyslexic. He would often write his notes backwards, which is common with left-handed, dyslexic people.

Mona Lisa
Da Vinci: The Artist
He was also known for his scientific approach to light and shadows, allowing his paintings to take on a three dimensional feel. Da Vinci paintings were realistic, which was not the norm for that era. His influence on painting realism became the standard for painters who followed in the 16th century.
The Last Supper
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The Last Supper represents the scene from the final days of Jesus, as narrated in the Gospel of John 13:21, when Jesus announced that one of his Twelve apostles would betray him.
The Last Supper is one of his best-known and worst-preserved pieces of art from Da Vinci. Doomed from the start by Leonardo's experimental technique, the mural began to deteriorate even before the artist's death. Within 50 years it was almost indecipherable, and it was repainted twice during the 18th century.
The painting continued to suffer, as Napoleon's soldiers almost destroyed it. If not bad enough, later the monks that cared for it actually cut a door through the bottom of the painting!
Much later, the painting miraculously survived the allied bombings of World War II. Finally, now it is well cared-for in Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan Italy.
Da Vinci Art
Books about Da Vinci's Art

Some of his flying machines
Da Vinci: The Inventor

Leonardo's vision was resurrected in 2001 when a smaller bridge based on his design was constructed in Norway.

Golden Horn" bridge built on October 31, 2001 in Oslo, Norway
A Short List of his Inventions
He had many firsts
- He sketched the first parachute
- The first helicopter
- The first airplane
- The first tank
- The first repeating rifle
- A swinging bridge
- A paddle boat
- The first 'motor' car
- A machine for testing the tensile strength of wire
- A calculator
- A double hull for ships and boats
Books about Da Vinci's Inventions
The Genius of Da Vinci

Virtuvius
Da Vinci: The Scientist
Da Vinci documented scientific theories, such as a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. During the 1490s he studied mathematics under Luca Pacioli and sketched various complex shapes, in a skeletal layout to be engraved as plates for Pacioli's book Divina Proportione, published in 1509. In the book, Da Vinci is credited with first ever published drawing of a Rhombicuboctahedron (at left) was done by Da Vinci, in the Divina Proportione.
In addition, he quickly became master of topographic anatomy, drawing many studies of muscles, tendons and other visible anatomical features, as seen to the right. Leonardo's formal training in the anatomy of the human body began with his apprenticeship to Verrocchio. His teacher insisted that all his students learn anatomy. Leonardo closely observed and recorded the effects of age and of human emotion on the physiology, in particular; rage.
His practice was to describe it in utmost detail.
Even though he studied his subjects by careful observations, he did take part in dissecting human and animal corpses, after being given permission by various hospitals.
A page from Leonardo's journal showing his study of a foetus in the womb (c. 1510), as seen at left.
Da Vinci Videos
Leonardo da Vinci - the Ultimate Scientist/Artist
Learn More about Leonardo Da Vinci
- Leonardo da Vinci - Wikipedia
- Leonardo da Vinci From Wikipedia
- the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci
- An ever-growing collection of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci thumbnailed and available for downloading.
- Leonardo da Vinci's Paintings and Drawings
- Leonardo da Vinci's Paintings and Drawings
- Leonardo Da Vinci's Life
- Discusses Leonardo Da Vinci posters, art prints, and paintings including his biography and a detailed timeline.
Pink
Da Vinci was often known to wear pink to make his complexion look more "fresh"
Books about Da Vinci
You can be Like Da Vinci
Your thoughts on Da Vinci?
Any suggestions or comments on the lens?
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Rocksteady
This is a brilliant lens, the content is king and theeasy to read and follow. 5***** Posted July 14, 2008 |
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triathlontraining
Contact lenses, eh? He was so far ahead of his time, who knows! Posted July 08, 2008 |
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PleasantValley
Wonderful glorious lens! By the way, I am under the impression that LDV toyed around with the idea of contact lenses. Posted July 08, 2008 |
| spiritartist
P.S. Just lensrolled ya. Tag, you're it! Posted July 06, 2008 |
| spiritartist
DaVinci Rules! *****! Posted July 06, 2008 |
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cowgirlup1123
Wonderful lense yes wonderful lense. I love Da Vinci I have always enjoyed his work. Posted July 05, 2008 |
| JoeR
Da Vinci's portraits are great to draw and learn from. I have gone back to his work repeatedly in my life. Posted July 04, 2008 |
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