Leonardo da Vinci: Life and Works

Leonardo da Vinci: Life and Works

• Born in Anchiano, Italy, 1452; died 1519.
• Illegitimate son of Piero and Caterina.
• Left-handed, signed his name backward.
• Moved to Florence in 1460s and received extensive education.
• Apprentice to Verrocchio (sculptor/artist) from 1466-1469.
• Mingled with other influential artists.
• Possibly trained as a goldsmith.
• Believed painting was superior to sculpting (a manual art) requiring greater intelligence and demands.
• Became a member of the Florentine painter's guild in 1472.
• Became an independent master by age 20 but likely assisted Verrocchio until 1476 for commissions.
• Notable historical and political documentations through works such as the drawing of the Pazzi conspiracy hanging.
• Focused on landscape positioning.

Key Works and Influences

• Baptism of Christ (c. 1470): A collaborative work with Verrocchio, showcasing da Vinci's early mastery, particularly the left angel and experimental oil techniques. Marked a shift and an end to Verrocchio's oil painting.
• Drapery for a Seated Figure (1470): Utilized gesso and scientific study of light on drapery, informing later works like Virgin of the Rocks, Mona Lisa, and The Last Supper.
• Annunciation (c. 1472-75): Potentially started by Verrocchio, displayed da Vinci's independence with sfumato (smoky haziness), botanical studies, and a hyper-realistic garden.
• Ginevra de' Benci (c. 1474): Early female portrait, one of the earliest to depict a woman directly facing the viewer. Features a juniper bush symbolizing virtue and chastity. Depiction of Neoplatonic muse.

Further Examples of da Vinci's Works

• Study of Hands (1474): Displays influence from Verrocchio's sculpture, emphasizing naturalism and grace.

• Madonna of the Carnation (c. 1476): Shows transition from Verrocchio's style to a Flemish-influenced approach with detailed shaded interiors.

• Benois Madonna (c. 1478): A more intimate and joyful representation of the Madonna, showing a more direct and joyful depiction.

• Hanging of Bernardo Baroncelli (1479): A drawing chronicling a Florentine assassination. Emphasized human anatomy, movement, and emotion.

• Adoration of the Magi (c. 1481): First large-scale composition, illustrating affetti (emotions conveyed in the characters) and decaying classical ruins.

• St. Jerome (c. 1482): An unfinished work with anatomical studies, and St. Jerome's attributes (cardinal's hat, lion).

• Virgin of the Rocks (1483-1486): Illustrates a religious conflict between the Dominicans and Franciscans about the immaculate conception.

• Virgin of the Rocks (1491-1508): A copy by da Vinci that highlights different aspects to earlier paintings.

• Cecilia Gallerani (c. 1483-89): A portrait of a Milanese mistress, known as the "Lady with an Ermine," showcasing vitality and sophistication.

• Last Supper (1495-1498): A massive fresco depicting Christ and his apostles, focusing on their human emotions displayed rather than a mystical narrative about Christ and the disciples.

• Madonna and Child and St. Anne (Burlington) (c. 1499-1501): A preparatory drawing for a planned painting depicting a human trinity, highlighting the hierarchy between figures.

• Battle of Anghiari (c. 1503-1505): Lost fresco commissioned for Florence, reflecting his experimental methods and battle scene characteristics.

• Mona Lisa (1503-1515): A revolutionary portrait of Lisa Gherardini, showcasing sfumato, landscape, and an ambiguous smile.

• Madonna and Child and St. Anne (1507/1508): A final Italian work, depicts a more rigid hierarchy, conflict in the scene, and experimentation with thin paint layers.

• Saint John the Baptist (?Bacchus) (c. 1513-1516): A highly reworked painting potentially depicting either a saint or the Bacchus god.

• Vitruvian Man (c. 1490): A famous drawing illustrating human proportions based on the writings of Vitruvius, a Roman architect.

Noteworthy Aspects of da Vinci's Style:

• Sfumato: Technique for soft transitions between light and shadow and the application of blending colors
• Affetti: Focus on various emotions displayed in his figures.
• Naturalism: His emphasis on accurately portraying the human body, landscape, and the world.
• Scientific approach: His interest in anatomy and light, including scientific study of light on drapier