Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)

One of the exponents of the Renaissance was Leonardo Da Vinci, painter, sculptor, architect, engineer and scientist. He was a character who is noted for his deep passion for knowledge and research, clear principles which highlighted his work. Was a clear innovator in the field of painting leading to the evolution of Italian art for more than a century after his death. It also stood out in the field of science, his research in the areas of anatomy, optics, and hydraulics, anticipated many advances of modern science.

By the fifteenth century the Italian peninsula was divided into several independent states, ruled by different families who were fighting among themselves for power. At that time, Italy was not unified as a country we see at present. Major cities were made up of Naples in the south of Rome at the center (controlled by the popes of the Roman Catholic Church) and to the north, Florence, Milan and Venice.

Leonardo Di Ser Piero da Vinci and natural illegitimate son of Ser Piero da Vinci (Florentine notary), born on April 15 of 1452, in a house-Anchiano three kilometers from the Tuscan town of Vinci. He was reared in the home of his paternal grandfather, Ser Piero arranged the mother, a peasant woman named Caterina, married a neighboring village, while he was married to another woman. Later, his parents had more children, each in their marriage, which gave Leonardo a total of 17 half-brothers and sisters, with whom he always maintained contact.

Both Leonardo and his father moved to Florence, where the couple received the finest education that the city-center of artistic and intellectual, Italy could offer. They had access to valuable library of family and friends of his father. He was described as elegant, persuasive in conversation, and an extraordinary musician and improviser.

At 15, his father sent him as an apprentice in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, the most important artist of Florence, a sculptor, painter and jeweler. There Leonardo cultivated his passionate concern for quality and its interest in expressing the vital mobility of the human figure. These early concerns were important elements in the artistic training of Leonardo, who started in various activities, from painting altarpieces and tables, to the development of large sculptural projects in marble and bronze.

At this stage of their training, the young man also studied human anatomy, taking part in the dissection of corpses of criminals in the medical faculty. So there was no refrigeration or preservation with formalin, and the bodies were descomponían very fast, so that Leonardo worked quickly, making observations and notes, moved by their great curiosity.

In turn, these investigations in the area of anatomy enabled him to learn about the physical proportions of people achieving remarkable figures of accuracy in representing the human figure (the "ideal" always sought).

After the stage of their training, Leonardo was part of the painters' guild of Florence. For the 20 years was already independently teacher (with a unique style and original) but remained as an assistant in the workshop Verocchio, very interested in discovering new techniques for working in oil. His reputation grew and orders increased. It is said that his talent was such that Verocchio decided not to paint over.

At the age of 30 years, driven by the quest for new challenges and better incomes, moved to Milan, where he entered the service of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan and Florence ambassador. Leonardo wrote a letter to the Duke offered his services as a painter, sculptor and architect, also an engineer, inventor and water. He claimed he could build portable bridges, he knew the techniques for making bombs, build ships and armored vehicles, cannons, catapults and other war machines.

So, stayed for 17 years in that city, working on projects of all kinds, both artistic and scientific, where the desire to experience the primary goal. The Da Vinci main concerns focused on the laws of motion and propulsion. Their efforts were deposited in the study of military engineering development methods which catapults to fire and divert rivers, to serve the Duke as an engineer and architect in his numerous military enterprises. Even was also a musician and organizer of festivals, inventing ingenious mechanisms for theaters, festivals and tournaments Duke.

However, this dedication to the duke, not prevented it from carrying out occasional artistic to Florence, which often left unfinished, as they absorbed their many interests. Euclid studied with Italian mathematician Luca Pacioli, and helped him in his famous work "The Divine Proportion." He also began to explore the principles of human flight and continued his studies of anatomy.

Their study in Milan was full of activity with their apprentices and students, for whom he wrote the texts that later group together in "Treatise on Painting."

His most important work of the Milanese period are the two versions of the "Virgin of the Rocks", where the scheme applies triangular composition that contains the Virgin and Child, St. John and the Angel, and on the other hand, first used by After the technique of sfumato.

In turn, worked for two years on his masterpiece "The Last Supper, a mural in the refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which recreates a traditional whole new way. Instead of showing the Twelve Apostles isolated presents grouped in threes, in a dynamic composition. However, his experimental use of oil on dry plaster caused technical problems that led to its rapid deterioration after three years. Since 1726 were carried out and failed attempts to restore the paint withstood several wars, including the bombings of World War II.

In the late seventies, started a program to restore the work, using the latest technologies, leading to improvements. Although most of the original surface has been lost, the grandeur of the composition and Physiognomic and psychological penetration of the characters gives a vague vision of its past splendor.

During his long stay in Milan, Da Vinci made other paintings and drawings, most of which are not retained, theatrical scenery, architectural drawings and models for the dome of the Cathedral of the city.

However, his task was the largest bronze equestrian monument to colossal size of Francesco Sforza, father of Ludovico, to its location in the courtyard of Castello Sforzesco, where Leonardo worked for 16 years. However, in December 1499, the Sforza family was driven from Milan by French troops. Leonardo left the statue unfinished and it was destroyed by French archers.

After the invasion of Milan by the troops of France, Da Vinci returned to Florence and began to act as a military engineer. However, it also continued his studies in anatomy performing multiple dissections improved and upgraded.

Then one years he traveled to Rome and entered the service of Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander the Sixth. In this place I do work as an architect and engineer for more Borgia. In this sense, Leonardo supervised work on the fortresses of the papal territories of central Italy, he traveled with his army and designed a bridge to cross the Gulf of Istanbul (which was never built), but is now considered perfectly viable by modern engineers.

In turn, he was a member of the committee of artists responsible for deciding on the proper location of Michelangelo's David in Florence. In addition he worked as an engineer in the war against the city of Pisa and met Machiavelli, author of "The Prince", who helped him get the contract to paint "The Battle of Anghiani.

During his second Florentine period, he painted several portraits, but the only one that has been preserved is the "Mona Lisa", the most famous in the history of painting, also known as "La Gioconda." This painting is named to identify the model's portrait as Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. However, several hypotheses have been built on his true identity, including the theory that it is a self-portrait of the artist.

The Da Vinci masterpiece from a number of technical innovations such as chiaroscuro and sfumato, plus the enigmatic smile of the portrayed. Indeed, many say that Leonardo felt a great liking for this painting, as the carrying on all trips.

He then returned to Milan, where he was appointed court painter to Louis XIII of France, who then resided in that Italian city. There, he worked as a painter and engineer. Moreover, at this time resumed his studies in anatomy, urban planning, hydraulic engineering and optics.

For six years, Leonardo organized their lives between Milan and Florence, where he often visited his stepbrothers and sisters, who (to his misfortune) created a widget to be left without an inheritance to his father's death. However, after the death of a beloved uncle, Da Vinci was able to evade the wiles of his half-brothers, and received land and money as part of the estate to it.

Then he established three years in Rome under the patronage of Giuliano de 'Medici, a relative of Pope Leon Diez. At that time, was staying at the Belvedere Palace in the Vatican, the Pope's residence, seized mainly for scientific and technological experiments. The only ban imposed on him by the Pope for his studies in anatomy and physiology was dissecting human cadavers, which considerably limited the investigations. While away from the bustling social and artistic life of the Vatican, which is dominated by Raphael and his followers, was recognized and honored for their accomplishments.

On the death of Giuliano de Medici, he accepted the invitation of King Francis I of France to move to cut its Fontainebleu, which would serve as "First Painter, Engineer and Architect of the Kingdom", dedicated to architectural studies for royal castles . The king of France was an unconditional admirer of Leonardo, who had designed for his coronation an amazing mechanic Leon, which provided all possible comforts and luxuries.

In his later years lived in the castle of Cloux where he died on 2 May 1519 to 67 years, in the arms of the King of France (according to legend). He was buried in the Church of Saint Valentine in Amboise.

In his will, bequeathed all his manuscripts, drawings, tools, books, clothes and money to his favorite pupil, Francesco Melzi. Another disciple, Salai, he left the paintings kept in his studio, including "Mona Lisa", which was later bought by King Francis I in twelve thousand francs. Da Vinci left an unfinished project, which made for a "Treatise on Painting", who was picked up by Melzi. However, this young apprentice did not know how to order and took the necessary measures to preserve it for publication.

After the death of Francesco Melzi, Leonardo's legacy began to spread among the heirs of the faithful disciple. However, they ignored the importance of what they had inherited, which led them to store drawings and manuscripts by Leonardo in an attic, giving away or selling very cheap parts to friends and collectors.

Over the years, succeeded in publishing a provisional, messy, not consistency, but gradually it was complete to give a thrust of the ideas that occupied Leonardo in all his life: painting, architecture, the human body and botany.

Currently, the Leonardo drawings and manuscripts are divided into ten different codices, which are preserved in various museums in London, Milan, Turin, Paris and Madrid, as well as a collection of the magnate Bill Gates, which recently paid 30 million dollars.

Da Vinci left a legacy sere, but left much of his painting unfinished production, was an extremely innovative and influential artist.

Considering its heritage pictorial notes that at the beginning of his career his style was similar to that of Verrocchio, but gradually evolved into a more free, more gentle modeling, which included atmospheric effects.

Also represents a break with the universal models established during the Quattrocento. In this sense, opposed to the concept of "beauty" ideal, defending the imitation of nature with fidelity, without trying to improve it. Contemplate the ugliness and the grotesque, as in his drawings of deformed and comic characters, considered the first cartoon in the history of art.

His mastery of color and atmosphere made him be the first to paint the air. Aerial or atmospheric perspective, as is now known, is an unmistakable feature of his work, especially of landscapes, considering that the gap is filled with air and it makes distant objects become blurred and they were blue.

Its production was marked by the chiaroscuro, the technique of modeling forms through the contrast of light and shadow, and the sfumato, the technique with which blurs the outlines, making the prospect atmospheric landscapes.

It also highlights his facet as an artist, while retaining a large number of memos that reveal his technical mastery and the study of human anatomy, animals and plants. Probably his most famous picture is his "Self Portrait of Seniors."

In their study, known as "The Man from Vitrubio" Da Vinci made a vision of man as the center of the universe, to be inscribed in a circle and a square. The square base is the entire architecture, while the use of 90-degree angle and symmetry are the basis of Greek architecture. In this anatomic study sought proportionality in the human body, the classical canon or ideal of beauty, the famous "golden ratio", according to studies by the Roman architect Vitrubio, who lived in the I century a. C.

"The Man from Vitrubio" is a clear example of the holistic approach of Leonardo. I tried to express the place of humanity in the "overall plan of things." For Leonardo, the Man was the model of the universe and the most important thing was to link with nature.

In turn, his artwork is very scarce and controversial. One constant was the artist's systematic abandonment of the projects entrusted to it by many steps to take customers through contracts and terms of any kind. Did not define himself as a painter but as an engineer and architect, even as a sculptor. However, his life was standing in large, being housed and admired, as we have seen, for royalty and the Pope himself.

However, none of the Da Vinci of sculptural projects were completed, the knowledge of its three-dimensional art in these works is difficult and can only be realized through their drawings. Even so is its architecture, its architectural lines show mastery in the composition, clarity of expression and a mastery of the ancient Roman ..

Leonardo lived in an age when the study of the classics was in full force, but had difficulty trying to learn Latin and Greek, languages, religions and the key to philosophical Neoplatonism culture that dominated Italy and part of Europe. He wrote most of his writings in Tuscan dialect of Florence. In addition, he wrote backwards, from right to left, his writing can be read only seen through a mirror. The most accepted explanation about his writing is that, as was left-handed, he was difficult to write from left to right without the mud ink. Only when he wrote a letter or other text to someone else, it was normally.

However, at the end of his life, being left-handed was a considerable advantage, since he suffered paralysis on his right arm which prevented him from painting, however, Da Vinci was able to continue drawing and writing without any problems with his left hand.

His personal life is largely a mystery, just have an indication of their habits, tastes or defects. It is known that it was strictly vegetarian, by his letters and writings on anatomy, which called omnivores "eaters of corpses." It said it purchased and freed caged animals.

In turn, it seems quite proved that Leonardo was homosexual, he suffered persecution for that reason and that was about to face the Inquisition. Always got their protective shield that the public trial in other cases ended with the burning at the stake of the allegedly guilty. In any case, remained unmarried and without children.

After his death, Leonardo became the paradigm of the "Renaissance Man", dedicated to multiple scientific and artistic. A creator in all branches of art, a discoverer in most fields of science, a technological innovator in the field, Leonardo therefore deserves the title of Homo Universalis.

In this sense, was a painter, sculptor, engineer, architect, physicist, biologist, designer, inventor of board games and cooking utensils, geologist, cartographer, author treaty optical designers of gardens, interior designer, musician, astronomer and city planner. In each of these facets capacities shocked his contemporaries.

He had an excellent singing voice and was a virtuoso performer on the lira, but so strong that he could bend a horseshoe with the fingers of a horse. It is said that he was very handsome, so it served as a model when I was young, for Verrocchio's David, and old, for Plato by Raphael. His genius was due to his insatiable curiosity and his intuitive sense of the laws of nature, whose attempts to discover mysteries. His contributions to science and technology are legendary.

Da Vinci is regarded as the prototype of the Renaissance man, through his work and his life cultivated the art, thought, science and technology, helping lead to a world teocéntrico to the path of reason, science, learning and tolerance.

Considerations reveal their knowledge to aspiring total globalizing, but not intended to reach him by way of revelation, as the scholastics and theologians for centuries, nor was entrusted blindly to the authority of classical authors such as did many men of his time. Was defined as an "illiterate man," because it ignores the Latin. As a child he was taught simply to read, write and perform audit. He learned Latin at maturity on their own, this language was the only access at that time to humanistic studies. Even his meeting with the mathematical skills were also in their adult stage, when deemed necessary for further progress in its investigations.

Leonardo understood and used the real experimental method for a century before Francis Bacon philosophize about it, and that Galileo put it into practice. He said that true science is based on the observation that if it could apply mathematical reasoning, greater certainty could be achieved, which today is one of the key steps of the scientific method.

In his diaries, noted the importance attached to the method in research in anticipation of the modern authors such as Descartes. One can see that the precepts laid down in the way of anything different from the modern definitions used today to talk about the scientific method.

Given the previously expressed, transcribed some excerpts from his posthumous thought:

  "In addressing a scientific problem, first experiments have since aimed to determine the problem based on experience, then showing why the bodies are forced to do so. This is the method to be followed in all research on the phenomena of Nature. "

"We have the expertise to consult on a variety of cases and circumstances, until we can draw from them a general rule that they contain. What these rules are useful? Leads to further research on the nature and artistic creations . We delude ourselves hinder or other promising results that can not be achieved. "

  "Many think they have reason to reproach, that my evidence to contradict the authority of certain men held in high esteem by their inexperienced theories, without considering that my works are the result of the experience simple and flat, which is the real teacher."

  "There is no knowledge higher or lower, but a unique knowledge that comes from experimentation."

Thus, Da Vinci considered mechanics as the noblest of sciences, because by it make their actions all the bodies that have movement. In this regard, provided the principle of inertia, Galileo showed that after experimentally-demonstrated and the law of the lever by the method of virtual velocities, a principle already embodied Aristotle and later used Galileo. He even took an interest in the hydrodynamics, studying water currents and propagation of waves on the surface. His studies focused on the waves on water, air and waves of sound laws, anticipating the modern wave theory of light.

In the field of astronomy, said that the Earth is one of many stars and reflecting the sunlight like the Moon.

Nearing the geological and geographical considerations explained that the world carries traces of its recorded history, prior to any review written. The fossil was found in the high mountains continental occurred in seawater. In this way they have been expressed that changes in the crust of the Earth "should have raised the mountains to fill new positions." For these conclucsiones used shells found inland to support the theory of Albert of Saxony on the formation of mountains.

However, as a cartoonist, painter and sculptor, Leonardo came to intensively investigate the human anatomy. Defying the traditional clerics, many bodies were made, then dissected by making anatomical drawings that, apart from their accuracy, are true works of art. Furthermore, he discovered how the blood travels constantly throughout the human body, bringing the food to each of its parts and removing wastes, thus anticipating the discovery of Harvey on the circulation of blood. He studied the muscles of the heart and made drawings of the valves appear to show that he met his operation.

Moreover, in planning their investigations, made a drawing of the sewage system of a city model and building it into two levels: one for pedestrians and other vehicles. On the street above should have no vehicle to load the trucks and the street below was reserved. In this city designed public buildings such as churches or town hall and included studies on the system of stairways and heating installations.

His fascination with machines led him to study at a very young, being an apprentice in the studio Verocchio. From these observations, obtained a practical knowledge about their design and structure. Some of his early drawings show how different parts of working machines.

The concern of knowledge that characterized Da Vinci was well served by his talent as an illustrator, enabling her to realize their ideas with exceptional clarity mechanical. Five years later, many of his drawings can easily be used as models to create drawings perfectly functional.

Among his many research include engineering where he developed the principles of flight, with over 100 drawings that illustrated his theories. He made a design for the manufacture of a flying machine, the orintóptero a rotary winged model equipped with shock absorbers to achieve a soft landing. Although never built, the modern helicopter is based on that concept. The first parachute was designed by Leonardo da Vinci, who was convinced of its utility to be constructed where the flying machines.

Among his inventions are also the machines of war such as the armored tank, with a cone shaped shell, the submarine or submersible craft, dress and air tanks for divers, repeating rifles, grenades and mortars. Although Leonardo hated the war, which he called "bestial madness" could not escape it, because in his time Italy was in constant wars between states.

He was also a precursor of civilized manners, which are known in the courts of the seventeenth century-in this sense, introduced the use of the napkin on the table, considering that this is a safe and practical, although it was adopted after full time.

There are many inventions attributed to Leonardo, from one vehicle to the common bread grater, through practice saw a marble, a machine for making ropes, swing for modern doors locks, mirrors a polishing machine, a mobile crane would facilitate the construction, getting a raise heavy loads and floating excavator, which was intended to ensure that the rivers were navigable.

However, none of these inventions changed the design of the stadium, nor was used, despite the fact that Leonardo designed not only extra equipment but also responsible for dealing with each and every one of the problems associated with constructing them. The vast majority of his inventions are hundreds of years ahead of its time.

Beyond the Da Vinci is not reflected in a book and its various branches of inventions work, undoubtedly exerted a great influence on the contemporary. As a friend of princes and statesmen, became known to all the major scholars of his time. It is indisputable that, through them, saved some of his ideas, which years later would help to promote the development of science.

If we were to choose a representative who embodies in it the true spirit of the Renaissance, we would have to choose the figure of Leonardo da Vinci.

At present, all the works of the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci appear together in a unique book that allows a closer look at his prolific creation, which is not possible in any museum in the world. Is the most complete that has been published so far on his paintings and prints, a luxury that I have already been translated from German into several languages, including Spanish.

This work has been published under the title "Leonardo da Vinci. All Paintings and Drawings", the book was first presented to the public on April 5 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Vienna.

It has 850 color reproductions, as well as many enlargements of details of his paintings, includes a complete catalog of all the works of da Vinci, including the latest research and information on the current status of each.

This issue reveals the genius of Leonardo and fascinated with human figures, animals, monsters, faces grotesque gestures, detailed anatomical studies and futuristic visions then weapons and technical artifacts to fly.

The authors project that built size are based on a conviction: Leonardo Da Vinci ever did anything that can not understand anyone with an educated middle.