Leonardo da Vinci

By Theresa Liess-Hassinger

Leonardo’s Life

• Born April 15, 1452 in Italy• Died at age 67 in France• Explored the fields of art, anatomy, geometry,

science and philosophy• Thought to have had the most complex

imagination of all time

Apprenticed to Verrocchio at 15

• Verrocchio a well-known sculptor and painter in Florence

• Upon leaving his apprenticeship he became the official artist to a duke

• The Last Supper during this period

The Last Supper

Leonardo

• Never married and had few close friends• Obsessed with recording his thoughts• Used mirror writing to possible disguise his

ideas • Very mysterious character in spite of all the

documentation he left behind.

Inventions, Landscapes and PortraitsPortrait of Cecilia Gallerani (Lady with an Ermine), c. 1490

Portrait- a likeness of a person.Study of the Head of Leda,

Mona Lisa and Leonardo

Mona Lisa—Who is she?

• Leonardo’s favorite painting…He worked on it for over 3 years

• The painting was never delivered to its owner• It was in France with Leonardo when he died• Now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris

behind bulletproof glass.• Try re-creating her expression on your own

face in front of a mirror..ARE YOU SMILING?

Durer vs. Mona Lisa

Leonardo studied Anatomy

• Used dissections and drawing from cadavers to acquire knowledge

Inventions

RAFT Writing Assignment

• Role- You are yourself in 2010.• Audience- Leonardo da Vinci.• Format- Simple letter; ¾ to 1 page long on

notebook paper, about 200 words• Topic- A True Renaissance Man (See Next

Slide)• DUE DATE on or before Thursday, February 25,

2010.

A True ‘Renaissance Man’

• If you could have a conversation with Leonardo da Vinci what would you like to say to him?

• Which of his ideas would you like to discuss further? Which of your own ideas would you like to talk with him about?

• What do you think Da Vinci would have to say about technology today?