Bio & Personality

Leonardo da Vinci was a man of many trades. A majority may know him as a world renowned painter, but few may realize that da Vinci was a man who partook in crafts such as sculpting, architecture, innovation and engineering. Born in the hills of Tuscany on April 15, 1452, da Vinci was born into a family with little means. At the age of 5, da Vinci would move to his father’s estate which was located in Vinci; the nearby Tuscan town which da Vinci’s last name derives from. Da Vinci would continue his childhood as any normal child, receiving formal education in areas such as reading, writing and mathematics. But around the age of 14, da Vinci displayed an unusually gifted talent in the arts. As a result, he would receive an invitation which led to an apprenticeship with the accredited artist, Andrea Del Verrocchio. Da Vinci would continue to learn a number of skills from Verrocchio, including metalworking, leather arts, carpentry, drawing, painting and sculpting. Da Vinci was described as an artist with “unquenchable curiosity”. From an early age, his “feverishly inventive Imagination” would allow him to thrive as an artist, and eventually, would lead to his membership as a master artist in Florence’s Guild of Saint Luke at the age of 20. As gifted as da Vinci was, he was also considered a rebel, and possibly an outlaw. Records show that in 1476, da Vinci, alongside four young men, were charged with sodomy, a crime which, during the time, resulted in exile. Da Vinci would eventually be acquitted of the charges, but during two years of da Vinci’s young life, his whereabouts were unknown. Da Vinci’s humble beginnings would lead to a long and fulfilling career as an artist. Considered to be an archetype of the Renaissance era, his methods were considered revolutionary, during a time in which society had never seen techniques that can be described as “empirical” and “superhuman”; yet, oddly “mysterious”. Many believe da Vinci to be a pioneer who was not only an artist, but a scientist. His work was considered scientific for the fact that he had a deep understanding and knowledge of aspects such as light, shade and the human body. Da Vinci states “A good painter has two chief objects to paint –man and the intention of his soul”. 

Annunciation. By Leonardo da Vinci and Andrea Del Verrocchio.

-Here, we have one of da Vinci’s first credited works: The Annunciation. This piece speaks volumes to the beginning of da Vinci’s young and promising career. We see Gabriel, an angel who is instructed to announce that a Virgin, Mary, would miraculously give birth to a young Jesus; a person who will eventually “reign for eternity”. Particularly, notice the landscape within the background of the painting. Da Vinci was highly regarded for his ability to portray landscape within his work. Notice how the angel’s wings are portrayed and rather heavily focused upon. Supposedly, it is understood that da Vinci captured a bird in mid-flight in order to portray the wings upon the angels back.

Authors: Jacob Mikus