Leonardo da Vinci - The true renaissance man

What does the word Renaissance mean?

It comes from the French word for rebirth.

What was the awakening during the Renaissance?

It was when the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome were brought back by the artists, philosophers, and scientists.

What areas was Leonardo da Vinci an expert in?

Painting, sculpting, music, science, architecture, and engineering.

What does it mean to be a true Renaissance man?

To excel at everything one tries.

Where was Leonardo da Vinci born?

In 1452 in the small village of Vinci near Florence.

What does 'da Vinci' mean?

It means 'from Vinci'.

How did Leonardo da Vinci approach drawing as a young man?

He constantly observed and drew everything he saw.

Where was Leonardo brought as a teenager?

To Florence to be an apprentice under Renaissance master Verrocchio.

What was Leonardo's requirement before drawing something?

He needed to fully understand how it worked and how the parts went together.

What inspired Leonardo's design of inventions?

The massive dome of the Florence Cathedral designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.

What opportunity did Leonardo have at the age of 21?

To paint an angel for a large painting called The Baptism of Christ.

Where did Leonardo work after his training?

In Milan for the ruler Ludovico Sforza.

What did Leonardo do when he was 24?

He set off on his own and established his own studio in Florence.

What was the Duke of Milan's request from Leonardo regarding weapons?

He asked him to design weapons to defeat Milan’s enemies.

What type of projects did Leonardo create besides weapons?

He designed costumes and elaborate pulleys and machines for theatre shows.

Which modern weapons were similar to Leonardo's designs?

A tank and a machine gun.

What was Leonardo's philosophy regarding war?

He was a pacifist and hated the thought of war and violence.

What was a notable result of Leonardo's curiosity?

He left many of his projects and sketches unfinished.

What was Leonardo's special interest that he pursued rigorously?

Anatomy; he dissected bodies and made detailed drawings of muscle, bone, and organ structures.

How did Leonardo draw inspiration from nature?

He used the shape of a fish to design the hull of a ship.

What limitations did Leonardo face regarding his inventions?

There was no technology in his time to build them, though many were invented centuries later.

What was one of Leonardo's notable inventions?

A version of a modern submarine.

What kind of maps did Leonardo create?

Detailed maps with modern relief features many years ahead of his time.

What perspective did Leonardo adopt in his drawings?

He was one of the first to draw from a bird's eye view.

What was unusual about Leonardo's writing system?

He wrote in reverse or mirror, possibly to keep ideas secret.

What job did Leonardo take in France at age 64?

He worked for King Francis the First who offered him a well-paid job and an estate.

How many pages of Leonardo's notebooks survived?

Over 5000 pages.

When did Leonardo paint The Last Supper?

Between 1495 and 1498.

What was unique about Leonardo's method of painting The Last Supper?

He used oil tempera on stone instead of traditional fresco on wet plaster.

What issue occurred with The Last Supper after it was painted?

It began to peel and was later covered by other artists.

When did Leonardo paint the Mona Lisa?

Between 1503 and 1519.

Who was the subject of the Mona Lisa?

The wife of a rich merchant.

What painting technique did Leonardo use for the Mona Lisa?

Sfumato, which involves fine shadowing for realistic color transition.