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Who is Leonardo Da Vinci?

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the great man of Renaissance period. He was regarded as a genius during his time because he has prolific discoveries and activities which are rather advance if not innovative during the 15th century. He was notably highly regarded in the works of Arts and Science and his mastery of this matters is shown by the popularity of his works.

He was born at a time known as Renaissance period where other great artists such as Raphael and Michael Angelo became know as well not only in Italy but in the whole world.

When was Leonardo Da Vinci born?

Leonardo da Vinci was born in April 15, 1452 in Florence. Particularly he grow up in Tuscan Hilltown of Vinci in the lower valley of the Arno River.

His maternal history however is not the usual story as he was born as an illegitimated child from a middle east enslave mother, Caterina and by his father Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, a Florentine notary.

There is so little history on Leonardo’s life aside from his father marrying a 16 year old named Albiera who was very caring to Leonardo at a young age but later die early.

Among his memoirs during his childhood is that when a kite dropped on the sky almost hitting him and when he was doing a mountain climbing and found a cave. But he was so afraid because a monster may be inside it but at the same time his very curious to explore it.

Formative Years of Leonardo Da Vinci at Verrocchio’s Workshop in 1466-1476

Andrea di Cione, known as Verrocchio was the man who laid the foundation of skills for Leonardo Da Vinci. At the year 1466 and at a younger age of 14, Leonardo started apprenticeship with popular Verrocchio.

There are other famous painter people who have studied under Verrocchio which includes Ghirlandaio, Perugino, Botticelli, and Lorenzo di Credi.

A wide range of technical skills would have been introduced to Leonardo, and he would have had the chance to acquire drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, metal working, plaster casting, leather working, mechanics, carpentry, as well as the aesthetic talents of drawing, painting, sculpting, and modelling.

During this time, Leonardo was known to have contributed on painting one of Verrocchio’s famous artwork know as “The Baptism”

Leonardo Da Vinci “The Baptism”

In this picture there are portrait of two child where one is an angel and another Jesus. It can be noted that this is the usual template of Leonardo with realistic drawing and  where the background consist of a rocky mountainous region.

In 1472 at the Age of 20, Leonardo is already skilled in most forms of art work and already, a master painter and doctor of medicine at the guild of St Luke.

At later years he had a good relationship with Verrocchio such that his future works has collaborations with him as well.

Active Years of Leonardo Da Vinci 1476-1513

During his middle years Leonardo was known to have stayed in Florence between 1476 and 1481. He was commissioned to paint an altarpiece in 1478 for the Chapel of St Bernard and the Adoration of the Magi in 1481 Monks of San Donato a Scopeto.

Leonardo Da Vinci Adoration of the Magi

In 1482, through his artworks he averted a quarrel between the duke of Milan Ludovico il Moro and Lorenzo de' Medici.

Much of his works later were focus on religious subjects but occasionally he accepts portrait making as well.

Between 1482 and 1489 he painted “Virgin of the Rocks” for Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception and the “last supper” for Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Leonardo da Vinci also did work for pageants and floats for a Milan Cathedral and a monument for Francesco Sforza. He finished his "Gran Cavallo" in 1492 which is a monumental work at the time and considered to be one of the biggest statues of the Renaissance period.