Leonardo da Vinci

His significance in the renaissance world

Leonardo da Vinci had influence in many elements of the renaissance world. Though best known for his paintings and sketches he kept a detailed journal which noted many inventions, many of which were used in his lifetime, and included sketches of Human anatomy which are still highly regarded today. Leonardo da Vinci was a remarkable man who had ideas that stretched far beyond his own time.

Biography Born: April 15, 1452 Died: May 2, 1519 Leonardo da Vinci was the illegitimate son of a Notary and a peasant girl. As he lived with his Father he had access to Scholarly texts and when he was 15 he was apprenticed to the famous artist Andrea del Verrocchio. This also allowed him and education in Latin, Geometry and Mathematics. Patrons: Duke of Milan 1482-1499 Giuliano de' Medici 1513-1516 King Francis of France 1516-1519

Art

Leonardo da Vinci symbolized the brilliance and diversity of accomplishments that we associate with the Italian Renaissance. The variety of his actions was astonishing, for he was an anatomist, engineer, mathematician, naturalist and philosopher, as well as a painter, sculptor and architect.

Leonardo da Vincis art was significant because during the time its incorporation of perspective was a new and innovative idea. The Adoration of Magi epitomises this with the larger figures in the foreground and the smaller battle taking place in the background. Raphael, Andrea del Sarto, and Fra Bartolommeo, famous renaissance painters, all learned from Leonardo. He completely transformed the school of Milan and had a large influence on the artistic development of Correggio

List of his Works Annunciation, 1475-1480 Adoration of the Magi, 1481 Last Supper, 1498 Mona Lisa or La Gioconda, 1503-1505 The Virgin and Child with St. Anne, 1510 St. John the Baptist, 1514

Science

Leonardos Scientific theories were far more advanced than any others of his time. He predicted many findings that were discovered much later on. He was able to dissect bodies and studied Galens books which allowed him to make detailed sketches and drawings in his various journals. The innovation of the time, however, was limited due to his use of mirror writing throughout his journals.

Leonardo da Vinci and the Catholic Church

Most of Leonardos works were religious as the Catholic Church was the most powerful and richest organisation of the time and therefore made large commissions. He was able to dissect bodies at the Sancto Spirito Hospital in Rome. This was not popular though and he was asked by the Pope to stop. It is thought that he dissected around 30 human bodies.

In regard to Leonardo, it should be understood that he had continued his dissections in Florence and in Milan with relatively little opposition.

Leonardo da Vinci And Printed Ancient Medical texts: History and Influence

Joanne Snow-Smith

Leonardo da Vinci, Extracts from his journals

"in the medical faculty he learned to dissect the cadavers of criminals under inhuman, disgusting conditions...because he wanted [to examine and] to draw the different deflections and reflections of limbs and their dependence upon the nerves and the joints. This is why he paid attention to the forms of even very small organs, capillaries and hidden parts of the skeleton. Paolo Giovi, 1520, first Biographer of Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo started to challenge the idea that the Bible held all Scientific knowledge. He believed that people should learn through observation and investigation, not through blind faith or dogmatism.

"[Both] former and contemporary authors have produced written reports [about anatomy] in tormentingly long-winded and confused styles. However, through a concise portrayal from different perspectives, things are described definitively; and to avoid that my gift to mankind could be lost [to time], I teach the technique of reproducing things by printing." Leonardo da Vinci, An Extract from his journals

Leonardo da Vinci developed a new method of scientific study of close observation, repeated testing and detailed drawings and brief notes. This was still used in the 19th Century.

In your discourse you must prove that the earth is a star much like the moon, and the glory of our universe; and then you must treat of the size of various stars according to the authors. The sun does not move. The sun has substance, shape, motion, radiance, heat, and generative power: and these qualities all emanate from it without its diminution. The sun has never seen any shadow. Leonardo da Vinci, extract from his notebooks

Leonardo da Vinci collaborated on a mathematical book; De divina proportione , with a monk and academic Luca Pacioli. The book was published in 1509 and was very popular and was reprinted several times.

All the branches of a water [course] at every stage of its course, if they are of equal rapidity, are equal to the body of the main stream. Extract from Leonardo da Vincis journals

Leonardo da Vinci had many theories about water and erosion. These theories were put into practice, particularly concerning the Arno River, and its flooding.

Among those inventions that are credited with passing into general practical use are the strut bridge, the automated bobbin winder, the machine for testing the tensile strength of wire and the lens-grinding machine.

In 1502, Leonardo produced a drawing of a single span 240 m (720 ft) bridge as part of a civil engineering project to span the Golden Horn. Beyazid did not pursue the project, because he believed that such a construction was impossible. In 2001 a smaller bridge based on his design was constructed in Norway. On 17 May 2006, the Turkish government decided to construct Leonardo's bridge to span the Golden Horn.