Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo's Life and Work
|
Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15 1452 in the small
village of Vinci, just outside Florence Italy. The illegitimate son of
a Florentine notary and a peasant woman, Leonardo was raised and educated
by his father. |
While very young Leonardo showed an intense interest in nature
and an extraordinary talent for drawing and painting.
His father, Ser Piero, was so impressed with young Leonardo's
sketches, he showed them to painter Andrea del Verrocchio who took Leonardo
as an apprentice.
Under Andrea, Leonardo apprenticed in painting and sculpture,
but was also fascinated with mechanics and architecture. His genius soon
became apparent to his master. Although he was admitted into the Painter's
Guild in 1472, Leonardo continued his apprenticeship until 1477 when he
struck out on his own.
Leonardo considered himself a student of his art and experimented
tirelessly with light and shadow to perfect the 3 dimensional quality of
his painting. His interests were broad and while working as a painter in
Florence began to devise and sketch hydraulic and military machinery.
In 1482, Leonard traveled to Milan to seek work as a
military engineer. There, he met with the Duke of Milan and secured the |
 |
position of "Painter and Engineer for The Duke". In Milan
Leonardo set up shop where he worked on studies ranging from painting and
sculpture to architecture, powered flight, urban design, fortifications,
catapult , trebuchet and powder based artillery and other weapons of war.
He also continued his study of geometry and perspective, which lead to
his discovery of several geometric methods.
It was in Milan Leonardo began his study of anatomy and
produced his famous notebooks containing meticulously sketches of his studies.
These notebooks, or codices, as later assembled, covered four main areas
of study: painting, architecture, the elements of mechanics and human anatomy.
In 1499, Leonardo left Milan. For the next 16 years, he
traveled through Italy, working as a military architect and engineer, painter
and sculptor and continuing his anatomic studies. In 1503, Leonardo started
one of his most famous works, the Mona Lisa .
In 1566, Leonardo accepted the title of "Premier Painter
and Engineer and Architect of the King" by France's King Francis the First.
Leonardo moved to Amboise, France where he continued his studies and teaching
despite suffering a paralysis of his right hand.
Leonardo da Vinci died on May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France.
Click on the images below to learn more about
Leonardo da Vinci and his work.
|
Catapult Plans
|
Trebuchet Plans
|
|
|
|
Save with Plan Multi-Packs
|
| | 2 Plans $19.95 FREE
Shipping | |
|
Select 2 Plans
|
|
|
