Who is Da Vinci?

We all know that Leonardo Da Vinci was a great man and an even greater artist. But not everyone knows who the man behind the art was.

 

Let’s take a look at the life of Leonardo Da Vinci.

 

In 1452, in the heart of the Renaissance in the heart of Europe, Leonardo Da Vinci was born outside Vinci, which lies high up on Mount Albano, in the valley of the Arno River, near the city of Florence. 

 

Florence was an independent republic at the time of his birth. His father, Ser Pierro da Vinci was a legal specialist, and his mother, a peasant girl named Caterina. Leonardo was considered an “illegitimate” son because his parents were not married. After his father married into a wealthy family, he went to live with his grandparents. Later he lived with his father’s family.

 

From a young age it was clear that he was very smart and was very quick at arithmetic and music. He revealed early on a wonderful singing voice, and quickly went to further develop his talents with a tutor. When he was 17, he went to become an apprentice of painting under the instruction of Andrea del Verrochio, in Florence. 

 

He started to use his outstanding understanding of science to enhance his paintings and studied and sketched rock formations, caves and fossils.  Although he was known as very kind and sympathetic, he did not have many close friends in his life. Later, during his apprenticeship, he started to find his niche at inventing machines like the helicopter, diving suit, and submarine. 

 

From 1478 to 1482, he had his own studio. After that, he accepted a job as a court artist for Lodvico Sforza, the Duke of Milan and lived in beautiful Milan for 17 years. There, he had a great variety of jobs including designing artillery, and planning river system diversions for the city. 

 

In Milan, Leonardo started to focus on the field of science. 

 

In 1508, a few years before his death, King Louis XII of France asked him to accompany him to Milan, and he went willingly. He worked there until 1512 on anatomy and other fields, when the French lost Milan. 

 

He then went to Rome where he stayed until he died on May 2, 1519.

 

As is often the case with artists, Leonardo Da Vinci led a quiet and lonely life. It is many centuries after his death and we still appreciate the workmanship that was produced in his life!

 

Written by: Marleen Theunissen