Written By Niyati Narasimhan
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian High Renaissance polymath who worked as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. His works are among the most well-known and important paintings of the Renaissance. He employed his imagination in every field where visual representation is used: he was a painter, sculptor, architect, and engineer. But he went much beyond. He studied nature with his excellent mind, remarkable skills of observation, and mastery of the craft of sketching, a path of research that allowed his twin passions of art and science to blossom.
Most of us know him due to the inordinate popularity of his painting, The Mona Lisa. But what is even more captivating about this artwork is the fact that the Mona Lisa presents itself as one of the most questionable forms of art. Researchers and critics often pose the prominent and lingering question as to why the Mona Lisa does not have any eyebrows or eyelashes. Even more, historians are still unsure who the mona lisa is. Furthermore, the fact that her smile changes depending on which portion of the eye sees it first remains a shocking reality. One of the most endearing aspects of the world’s most renowned painting is that she appears radiant one moment and stern and sarcastic the next.
But it isn’t just the Mona Lisa, The last supper, Salvator Mundi and Virgin of the Rocks remain significant and noteworthy pieces of art.
Despite not having had a formal education, Da Vinci was enthralled and in awe of nature and drew most of his inspiration from the same. He was determined to do good for the world and make society better. He is admired for his technological genius, having invented flying machines, armoured battle vehicles, concentrated solar power, a machine for ratios that could be utilised in an arithmetic device, and the double hull.
He was one of the first people to analyse the measurements of the human body, dissect human corpses to understand anatomy, and produce drawings on them that are quite similar to the drawings of any medical student.
600 years have gone by and Da Vinci continues to astound us with his exemplary artworks and contributions to science, invention, and art, as well as his faith and strong commitment to constructive social change.
Featured Image Courtesy – TheCollector
