Leonardo da Vinci as a writer. Biography of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the great geniuses of all time, significantly ahead of his era. This Italian scientist of the Renaissance (Renaissance) was not only an outstanding artist and sculptor, but also a scientist, researcher of the secrets of many sciences. He was born in the small village of Vinci in 1452. Already in his youth, da Vinci painted beautiful paintings “The Annunciation” and “The Adoration of the Magi.” Later, his brush produced such magnificent works as the wall painting “The Last Supper” in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the portrait of Mona Lisa, “St. John the Baptist", "Bacchus". Throughout his life, da Vinci made notes on the theory of art (after the master’s death, these notes were collected and published under the title “Treatise on the Picturesque”).

Leonardo da Vinci is a brilliant artist.

Leonardo da Vinci is the author of many superb works that will always delight art lovers. One of the outstanding images he created, a portrait of Mona Lisa del Giocondo, painted between 1503 and 1506, can be seen in the Louvre. In the St. Petersburg Hermitage there is another of his most beautiful creations - “Madonna Litta”. Many of the works of the brilliant creator remained unfinished, since he was more interested in the depth of the creation process than in the effect of completion. The uniqueness of Leonardo da Vinci was also manifested in the fact that he was mainly interested in facial features, positioning of the figure, movement, correct, natural depiction of objects, chiaroscuro and perspective. Before starting a painting or sculpting a sculpture, the master made many sketches, which he then used during the work. Today they are valued no less than the finished canvases of a great artist.

Leonardo da Vinci is an inventor.

Even in his youth, Leonardo da Vinci began conducting scientific research. His range of interests is extremely wide: anatomy, botany, mathematics, physics, astronomy, optics, hydraulics, engineering, architecture, music and poetry. Da Vinci developed designs for many inventions, in particular, inventing prototypes of a helicopter, a parachute, an armored train, a submarine, a textile machine, a hydraulic press, a rolling mill (a machine that gives the required shape and size to metal products), a lathe, a grinding machine, a valve, pumps. Unfortunately, the scientist’s brilliant achievements did not change the course of technology development, since he refused to publish his unusual projects.

Chronology.

1452 - born in the village of Vinci;
1467 - becomes a student of A. del Verrocchio in Florence;
1482/83-1499 - work in Milan, at the court of L. Sforza;
1500-1506 - life and work in Florence;
1503-1506 - work on the portrait of Mona Lisa;
1513-1516 - life and work in Rome, under the patronage of D. Medici, brother of Pope Leo X;
1517 - move to France, construction of purification systems on the Loire;
1519 - death in Ambual.

Did you know that:

• Leonardo da Vinci became famous not only for his brilliant paintings, but also for scientific discoveries that were ahead of his era.
• While working at the Milanese court, Leonardo da Vinci painted a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, known as “The Lady with an Ermine.”
• The portrait of the Florentine Mona Lisa del Giocondo is remarkable primarily for the woman’s mysterious half-smile.
• Many of the great master’s drawings testify to his passion, for example, for anatomy and mechanics.

Leonardo da Vinci (born April 15, 1452, the village of Anchiano, near the town of Vinci, near Florence - died May 2, 1519, Cloux Castle, near Amboise, Touraine, France) - a great Italian artist (painter, sculptor, architect) and scientist (anatomist, mathematician, physicist, natural scientist), a prominent representative of the type of “universal man” (lat. homo universale) - the ideal of the Italian Renaissance. Painter, engineer, mechanic, carpenter, musician, mathematician, pathologist, inventor - this is not a complete list of facets of a universal genius. He was called a sorcerer, a servant of the devil, an Italian Faust and a divine spirit. He was ahead of his time by several centuries. Surrounded by legends during his lifetime, the great Leonardo is a symbol of the limitless aspirations of the human mind. Having revealed the ideal of the Renaissance “universal man,” Leonardo was interpreted in the subsequent tradition as the person who most clearly outlined the range of creative quests of the era. He was the founder of the art of the High Renaissance.

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in the village of Anchiano near Vinci: not far from Florence. His parents were 25-year-old notary Pierrot and his lover, peasant woman Katerina. Leonardo spent the first years of his life with his mother. His father soon married a rich and noble girl, but this marriage turned out to be childless, and Piero took his three-year-old son to be raised. Separated from his mother, Leonardo spent his whole life trying to recreate her image in his masterpieces. In Italy at that time, illegitimate children were treated almost as legal heirs. Many influential people of the city of Vinci took part in the further fate of Leonardo. When Leonardo was 13 years old, his stepmother died in childbirth. The father remarried - and again soon became a widower. He lived to be 78 years old, was married four times and had 12 children. The father tried to introduce Leonardo to the family profession, but to no avail: the son was not interested in the laws of society.

Don’t feed the slacker bread, but let him reason, and you won’t deny him the ability to denigrate others. He is always ready to find an excuse for his own worthlessness.

Da Vinci Leonardo

Leonardo did not have a surname in the modern sense; “da Vinci” simply means (from) the town of Vinci.” His full name is Italian. Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, that is, “Leonardo, son of Mr. Piero from Vinci.”

There is a legend about the beginning of the great artist’s journey. A peasant allegedly turned to Father Leonardo. He gave the notary a round shield made of fig wood and asked to find an artist capable of painting this shield. Pierrot did not look for a specialist and entrusted the work to his son. Leonardo decided to depict something “terrible”. He brought into his room many "models", snakes and insects of a bizarre appearance, and painted a fantastic dragon on the shield. The stunned father then sent Leonardo to study with the best painter in Tuscany, Andrea del Verrocchio. So the young man found himself in the famous art workshop of that time.

In the 15th century, ideas about the revival of ancient ideals were in the air. At the Florence Academy, the best minds in Italy created the theory of new art. Creative youth spent time in lively discussions. Leonardo remained aloof from his busy social life and rarely left his studio. He had no time for theoretical disputes: he improved his skills. One day Verrocchio received an order for the painting “The Baptism of Christ” and commissioned Leonardo to paint one of the two angels. This was a common practice in art workshops of that time: the teacher created a picture together with student assistants. The most talented and diligent were entrusted with the execution of an entire fragment. Two Angels, painted by Leonardo and Verrocchio, clearly demonstrated the superiority of the student over the teacher. As Vasari writes, the amazed Verrocchio abandoned his brush and never returned to painting.

At the age of 24, Leonardo and three other young men were put on trial on false, anonymous charges of sodomy. They were acquitted. Very little is known about his life after this event, but he probably had his own workshop in Florence in 1476-1481.

In 1482, Leonardo, being, according to Vasari, a very talented musician, created a silver lyre in the shape of a horse's head. Lorenzo de' Medici sent him as a peacemaker to Lodovico Moro, and sent the lyre with him as a gift.

Leonardo had many friends and students. As for love relationships, there is no reliable information on this matter, since Leonardo carefully hid this side of his life. According to some versions, Leonardo had a relationship with Cecilia Gallerani, a favorite of Lodovico Moro, with whom he painted his famous painting “Lady with an Ermine.”

The wine was consumed by a drunkard - and this wine took revenge on the drunkard. Wine takes revenge on the drunkard.

Da Vinci Leonardo

In France, Leonardo hardly painted. The master's right hand was numb, and he could hardly move without assistance. 68-year-old Leonardo spent the third year of his life in Amboise in bed. On April 23, 1519, he left a will, and on May 2 he died, surrounded by his students and his masterpieces. Leonardo da Vinci was buried at Amboise Castle. The inscription was engraved on the tombstone: “Within the walls of this monastery lie the ashes of Leonardo of Vinci, the greatest artist, engineer and architect of the French kingdom.”

News and publications concerning Leonardo Da Vinci

Name: Leonardo da Vinci

Place of birth: near Vinci, Florentine Republic

Place of death: Castle of Clos-Lucé, near Amboise, Duchy of Touraine, Republic of Florence

Age: 67 years old

Leonardo da Vinci - biography

Leonardo da Vinci was called a “universal man,” that is, a person whose activities and achievements were not limited to a single sphere. He was an artist, musician, writer, the most prominent representative of the art of the Renaissance. But the private, personal life of a genius is covered in secrets and mysteries. Perhaps this is due to a lack of information, or maybe it’s all about the mysterious figure of the Italian master.

Leonardo da Vinci - childhood

Leonardo da Vinci, whose biography is of great interest to fans of this greatest artist, was born on April 15, 1452, not far from the city, whose name today is associated primarily with the names of great painters.

The future artist was born near Florence, in the middle of the 15th century. His father was a notary, and his mother was a peasant. Such a misalliance could not exist, and soon Leonardo’s father found himself a more suitable wife - a girl from a noble family. Until the age of three, the child lived with his mother, and after that his father took him into his family. All subsequent years, the painter tried to recreate the image of his mother on canvas.

For some time, his father fiercely sought to instill in Leonardo a love for the family business. But his efforts were in vain: his son was not interested in the laws of society.

At the age of fourteen, Leonardo went to Florence and became an apprentice to the sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio. At that time, Florence was the intellectual center of Italy, which allowed the young man to combine work with study. He learned the basics of drawing and chemistry. But most of all he was interested in drawing, sculpture and modeling.

The main feature of the masterpieces of the Renaissance is a return to the ideals of Antiquity. During this era, the ancient Greek canons received new life. Students and seasoned masters discussed and argued about revolutionary events in culture and art. Leonardo did not take part in these disputes. He worked more and more, spending days in the workshop.

It would be unfair to miss one of the important facts in the biography of Leonardo da Vinci. One day his teacher received an order. The painting “The Baptism of Christ” was to be painted. According to the traditions of that time, he entrusted two fragments to his young student. Leonardo was commissioned to depict the angels.

When the painting was ready, Verrocchio looked at the canvas and threw down his brush in anger. Some fragments clearly indicated that the student had significantly outgrown the teacher in his skill. From then until the last hour of his life, Andrea del Verrocchio did not return to painting.

In the 15th century, there was an association of artists in Italy called the Guild of St. Luke. Membership in this guild allowed local artists to open their own workshops and sell their works on the official market. In addition, all members of the association were provided with financial and social support. As a rule, these were experienced and mature artists, sculptors and printers. Leonardo da Vinci joined the guild at the age of twenty.

Leonardo da Vinci - personal life

Little is known about the personal life of the titanic figure of the Renaissance. There are sources that talk about accusations of sodomy, that is, deviant sexual behavior. The accusation was based on an anonymous denunciation. But in those days in Florence, denunciation and slander flourished with violent force. The artist was arrested, kept in prison and released two months later due to lack of testimony.

In Florence, during the time of da Vinci, there was an organization called the “Officers of the Night.” The servants of this organization zealously monitored the moral character of the townspeople and actively fought against sodomists. For some time the painter was under the supervision of these moral fighters. But this is according to one version.

And according to another, da Vinci was not accused of anything like that at all, and he was present at the trial solely as a witness. There is a third version, whose adherents claim that the sexual preferences of the great master were far from the generally accepted norm; the power and influence of his father allowed him to avoid imprisonment.

But be that as it may, there is no information in the biography about the painter’s relationships with women. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, he lived with young people for a long time. Sigmund Freud also did not stand aside from the debate about the sex life of the genius and conducted his own investigation. The famous psychotherapist was sure of Da Vinci's homosexuality.

For almost thirty years, Gian Giacomo Caprotti, better known today as Salai, lived in the maestro’s workshop. When Leonardo da Vinci was already a fully accomplished master, a boy of angelic beauty appeared in his house. His image is present in many masterpieces. But he was not just a model. Officially, he is considered a student. Salai's paintings were not widely known.

But according to the entries in da Vinci’s diary, the aspiring artist was not distinguished by honesty and, at times, behaved like the last scoundrel. What made the great painter keep this man next to him is not known. But these were hardly paternal feelings or admiration for the young talent. Da Vinci's student did not write anything great, and he was not an orphan. All that remains is guesswork.

More than one painter emerged from the studio of Leonardo da Vinci. The master devoted a lot of time, first of all, to training young people. According to his methodology, the aspiring artist had to first study the shapes of objects, learn to copy the works of the master, examine the creations of other experienced authors, and only then begin to create his own work.

What kind of relationship a genius had with his followers in his free time from teaching is not so important. The important thing is that the master’s lessons were not in vain, and they subsequently managed to create a new image of the male body, sensuality and love.

The end of the life of Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vicci passed away on May 2, 1519 at the age of 67 years. His body was interred in a place near Ambauze. All his drawings and tools were transferred to his favorite student Francesco Melzi. All the paintings were inherited by his other student, Salai.

Date of birth: April 15, 1452
Date of death: May 2, 1519
Place of birth: Anchiano village, Florence, Italy

Leonardo da Vinci- legendary and outstanding personality, Leonardo da Vinci- a great scientist and inventor who was given to the world by Italy in the 15th-16th centuries. He was not only a great artist of the High Renaissance, but also a scientist, writer, inventor, whose contribution today is invaluable, both for science and art.

On April 15, 1452, in the village of Anchiano, near Florence, a baby was born. They gave him the name Leonardo. Leonardo's parents were the peasant woman Katerina and the wealthy notary Piero. For the first three years, Leonardo lived with his mother, since his father left the family and married a noble and wealthy young lady. But there were no children in the new family, and the father took Leonardo with him. The boy had a hard time being separated from his mother. When the young artist reached the age of 13, his stepmother dies. His father's remarriage did not last long and he was widowed again. Piero wanted Leonardo to follow in his footsteps, but the boy was not interested in the profession of a notary.

While still a young man, Leonardo showed unique abilities as an artist. At the age of 14, at the encouragement of his father, he went to Florence and became an apprentice to Andrea Verrocchio. There he studies the humanities, drawing, and chemistry. He works with metals and plaster, draws and models, spending all his time in the studio.

In 1473, the efforts of Leonardo da Vinci were appreciated by the Guild of St. Luke - he was awarded the qualification of a master. At the same time, Andrea Verrocchio was commissioned to paint “The Baptism of Christ,” and he entrusted Leonardo with the work on one of the angels. Leonardo copes with the task perfectly - he surpassed the work of his teacher. Soon Verrocchio moves away from painting, leaving this niche to a talented student, and takes up sculpture. Leonardo proves himself to be an innovator, looking for new paint compositions and discovering oil painting, which was just emerging in Italy. “Enlightenment” is the first independent work of the young master.

Soon Leonardo, mesmerized by the image of the Madonna, creates a series of paintings dedicated to her. His works include Madonna of the Flower (Benois Madonna), Madonna with a Vase, Madonna of the Grotto, Madonna Litta, and many unfinished sketches.
In 1481, representatives of the monastery of San Donato a Scopeto commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to write the work “The Adoration of the Magi,” which remained unfinished. Even then, da Vinci had a tendency not to complete the work. Leonardo was alien to the traditions of the palace of Lorenzo de' Medici, who ruled in Florence, and left the city.

In 1482, armed with his own creation - the silver lyre, and masterfully playing this instrument, Leonardo da Vinci moved to Milan. He is accepted to the court of Duke Lodovico Moro. Recommending himself initially as an architect, military engineer, and then as an artist and sculptor, Leonardo wanted to enlist the support of the ducal family.

In 1483, Leonardo da Vinci accepted a new order from the Franciscan Brotherhood of the Immaculate Conception for an altarpiece. This was his first commission in Milan, and he begins work on the painting “Madonna of the Rocks” or “Madonna in the Grotto”. Without agreeing with the customers on payment, Leonardo kept the canvas for himself, and completed it only in 1490-1494.

Soon da Vinci became a famous artist in Italy, painting portraits. But he was not able to implement all projects. For more than a century he sculpted the equestrian statue of Francesco Sforza, but it was not cast in bronze. Guns were made from bronze, and the clay statue was destroyed by the French, who captured Milan in 1499.

Possessing literary talent, Leonardo da Vinci writes notes and reflections on painting, science, and the inner essence of things. Unfortunately, these works did not see the light of day during the master’s lifetime. Only after the death of da Vinci, his successor Francesco Melzi isolated passages on painting from all the notes and created a Treatise on Painting, published in 1651.

Being a great inventor, Leonardo da Vinci became the author and creator of the wheel lock for a pistol - the only invention that received lifetime recognition of the master's merits. He also designed the first rolling mill, a machine for notching files, a machine for making cloth, and took part in creating the architectural appearance of the Milan Cathedral. In 1485, Leonardo proposed a drawing of the city with perfectly clear calculations of all parameters and a sewerage system, which was rejected by the Duke of Milan.

In 1495, Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Last Supper fresco in the monastery dining room of Santa Maria del Grazie, commissioned by Lodovico Moro. The work was often interrupted and was completed only in 1498.

On August 10, 1499, the Sforza dynasty fell and Milan was occupied by French troops. Leonardo da Vinci leaves Milan. His wanderings begin. Mantua, Venice, Florence. In memory of that time, only a drawing of a portrait of Isabella de Este remained.
At the end of July 1502, Cesare Borgia accepted da Vinci into his service as a military engineer and architect. Leonardo drew up plans for fortresses and advised engineers on how to improve defense systems.

March 1503 returns Leonardo da Vinci to Florence, where he creates his greatest masterpiece - the portrait of the wife of the local merchant Francesco del Giocondo "Mona Lisa" or "La Gioconda". Here he returns to his studies of anatomy and exact sciences. In 1512 he created his “Self-Portrait”.
September 14, 1513, when the Medici came to power,

Leonardo moves to the capital. Under the tutelage of his friend Giuliano de' Medici, who was interested in alchemy, da Vinci designs new equipment for the papal mint. After the death of the Medici in 1517, the Master went into the service of Francis I and moved to France. There, in the small castle of Cloux, da Vinci lived his last years, creating architectural projects and improving the area.

Leonardo da Vinci left the world on May 2, 1519, in the arms of King Francis I of France, a close friend, and was buried in the castle of Amboise.

Achievements and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci:

1. The invaluable achievements of the legendary creator in the emergence of innovative revolutions in the art of the Great Renaissance.
2. Invention and improvement of unique hydraulic mechanisms:
- fan,
- diving suit,
- gate for the sluice,
- water wheel,
- a boat with a paddle wheel,
- swimming webbed gloves
3. Innovations in the military sphere:
- lock with wheel for weapon factory,
- ship destruction system,
- double skinned boat and submarine,
4. The wealth of the master’s literary talent are thousands of sheets of da Vinci’s manuscripts, which he left to his descendants and reveal the immeasurable depth of his unique personality.

Interesting facts about Leonardo da Vinci's Meter:

He was a virtuoso in playing the lyre,
- Could write different texts with both hands at the same time,
- I gave up meat as a child,
- Described the reason for the blue color of the sky,
- "Leonardo's Handwriting" - his observations are written using the reflection of a mirror,
- Created a unique culinary masterpiece “From Leonardo” - stewed meat, cut into thin slices, covered with vegetables,
- Da Vinci became the prototype of the wizard of the game “Assassin's Creed 2”, where he helps the main character with his unique inventions,
- Worried about his imperfect knowledge of Greek and Latin,
- There are rumors about Leonardo’s unconventional sexual orientation, since his personal life is shrouded in mystery,
- I came up with a lot of synonyms for the word “penis”,
- He suggested that the light of the Moon is nothing more than the light of the Sun reflected from the Earth.

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most talented and mysterious persons of the Renaissance. The Creator left behind a lot of inventions, paintings and secrets, many of which remain unsolved to this day. Da Vinci is called a polymath, or “universal man.” After all, he reached heights in almost all areas of science and art. In this article you will learn the most interesting things from the life of this person.

Biography

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in the settlement of Anchiano in the Utuscan city of Vinci. The parents of the future genius were lawyer Piero, 25 years old, and orphan peasant Katerina, 15 years old. However, Leonardo, like his father, did not have a surname: da Vinci means “from Vinci.”

Until the age of 3, the boy lived with his mother. The father soon married a noble but barren lady. As a result, 3-year-old Leonardo was taken into care by a new family, separated from his mother forever.

Pierre da Vinci gave his son a comprehensive education and more than once tried to introduce him to the notary profession, but the boy did not show any interest in the profession. It is worth noting that during the Renaissance, illegitimate births were considered equal to those born legitimately. Therefore, even after the death of his father, Leonardo was helped by many noble people of Florence and the town of Vinci itself.

Verrocchio's workshop

At the age of 14, Leonardo became an apprentice in the workshop of the painter Andrea del Verrocchio. There the teenager drew, sculpted, and learned the basics of the humanities and technical sciences. 6 years later, Leonardo qualified as a master and was accepted into the Guild of St. Luke, where he continued to study the basics of drawing and other significant disciplines.

History includes the incident of Leonardo's victory over his teacher. While working on the painting “The Baptism of Christ,” Verrocchio asked Leonardo to draw an angel. The student created an image that was many times more beautiful than the whole picture. As a result, the amazed Verrochio gave up painting entirely.

1472–1516

1472–1513 years are considered the most fruitful in the artist’s life. After all, it was then that the polymath created his most famous creations.

In 1476–1481 Leonardo da Vinci had a personal workshop in Florence. In 1480 the artist became famous and began to receive incredibly expensive orders.

1482–1499 Da Vinci spent a year in Milan. The genius arrived in the city as a messenger of peace. The head of Milan, the Duke of Moro, often ordered da Vinci various inventions for wars and for the amusement of the court. In addition, Leonardo da Vinci began keeping a diary in Milan. Thanks to personal notes, the world learned about many of the creator’s discoveries and inventions, and about his passion for music.

Due to the French invasion of Milan, in 1499 year the artist returned to Florence. In the city, the scientist served Duke Cesare Borgia. On his behalf, da Vinci often visited Romagna, Tuscany and Umbria. There the master was engaged in reconnaissance and preparing fields for battles. After all, Cesare Borgia wanted to seize the Papal States. The entire Christian world considered the Duke a fiend from hell, and da Vinci respected him for his tenacity and talent.

In 1506 Leonardo da Vinci returned to Milan again, where he studied anatomy and the study of the structure of organs with the support of the Medici family. In 1512, the scientist moved to Rome, where he worked under the patronage of Pope Leo X until the latter's death.

In 1516 Leonardo da Vinci became a court advisor to the King of France, Francis I. The ruler allocated the artist the castle of Clos-Lucé and gave him complete freedom of action. In addition to an annual fee of 1000 ecus, the scientist received an estate with vineyards. Da Vinci noted that his French years gave him a comfortable old age and were the calmest and happiest in his life.

Death and grave

Leonardo da Vinci's life was cut short on May 2, 1519, presumably from a stroke. However, signs of the disease appeared long before this. The artist could not move his right hand due to partial paralysis since 1517, and shortly before his death he completely lost the ability to walk. The maestro bequeathed all his property to his students.

Da Vinci's first tomb was destroyed during the Huguenot Wars. The remains of various people were mixed and buried in the garden. Later, archaeologist Arsene Houssay identified the artist's skeleton from the description and transferred it to a reconstructed grave on the grounds of the Castle of Amboise.

In 2010, a group of scientists intended to exhume the body and conduct DNA testing. For comparison, it was planned to take material from the artist’s buried relatives. However, the owners of Watermelon Castle did not allow da Vinci to be exhumed.

Secrets of personal life

Personal life Leonardo da Vinci was kept in the strictest confidence. The artist described all love events in his diary using a special code. Scientists put forward 3 opposing versions regarding the personal life of a genius:

Secrets in the life of da Vinci

In 1950, the list of Grand Masters of the Priory of Sion, a Jerusalem order of monks founded in the 11th century, was made public. According to the list, Leonardo da Vinci was a member of a secret organization.

A number of researchers believe that the artist was its leader. The main task of the group was to restore the Merovingian dynasty - the direct descendants of Christ - to the throne of France. Another of the group's missions was to keep the marriage of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene secret.

Historians dispute the existence of the Priory and consider Leonardo's participation in it a hoax. Scientists emphasize that the Priory of Sion was created in 1950 with the participation of Pierre Plantard. In their opinion, documents were forged at the same time.

However, few surviving facts can only speak of the caution of the monks of the order and their desire to hide their activities. Da Vinci's writing style also speaks in favor of the theory. The author wrote from left to right, as if imitating Hebrew writing.

The Priory Mystery formed the basis of Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code. Based on the work, a film of the same name was made in 2006. The plot talks about a cryptex allegedly invented by Da Vinci - an encryption device. When you try to hack the device, everything written is dissolved in vinegar.

Predictions of Leonardo da Vinci

Some historians consider Leonardo da Vinci a seer, others - a time traveler who found himself in the Middle Ages from the future. So, scientists are wondering how the inventor could create a gas mixture for scuba diving without knowledge of biochemistry. However, it is not only da Vinci’s inventions that raise questions, but also his predictions. Many prophecies have already come true.

So, Leonardo da Vinci described Hitler and Stalin in detail, and also predicted the appearance of:

• missiles;
• telephone;
• Skype;
• players;
• electronic money;
• loans;
• paid medicine;
• globalization, etc.

In addition, da Vinci painted the end of the world, depicting an atomic one. Among future cataclysms, scientists have described the collapse of the earth's surface, the activation of volcanoes, the flood and the coming of the Antichrist.

Inventions

Leonardo da Vinci left the world a lot of useful inventions that became prototypes:

• parachute;
• airplane, hang glider and helicopter;
• bicycle and car;
• robot;
• eye glasses;
• telescope;
• spotlights;
• scuba gear and spacesuit;
• lifebuoy;
• military devices: tank, catapult, machine gun, mobile bridges and wheel lock.

Among Da Vinci's great inventions, his "Ideal City". After the plague pandemic, the scientist developed a Milan project with proper planning and sewerage. It was supposed to divide the city into levels for the upper classes and trade, to ensure constant access of water to houses.

In addition, the master rejected narrow streets, which were a breeding ground for infections, and emphasized the importance of wide squares and roads. However, the Duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza did not accept the bold scheme. Centuries later, a new city, London, was built according to an ingenious project.

Leonardo da Vinci also left his mark on anatomy. The scientist was the first to describe the heart as a muscle and tried to create a prosthetic aortic valve. In addition, da Vinci accurately described and depicted the spine, the thyroid gland, the structure of the teeth, the structure of the muscles, and the location of the internal organs. Thus, the principles of anatomical drawing were created.

The genius also contributed to the development of art, developing blurred drawing technique and chiaroscuro.

Great paintings and their mysteries

Leonardo da Vinci left behind many paintings, frescoes and drawings. However, 6 works were lost, and the authorship of another 5 is disputed. There are 7 works of Leonardo da Vinci that are most famous in the world:

1. - Da Vinci's first work. The drawing is realistic, neat and done with light pencil strokes. When looking at the landscape, it seems that you are looking at it from a high point.

2. "Turin self-portrait". The painter created a masterpiece 7 years before his death. The painting is valuable because it gives the world an idea of ​​what Leonardo da Vinci looked like. However, some art historians believe that this is just a sketch for the Mona Lisa, made from another person.

3. . The drawing was created as an illustration for the book. Da Vinci captured a naked man in 2 positions superimposed on each other. The work is considered simultaneously an achievement of art and science. After all, the artist embodied the canonical proportions of the body and the golden ratio. Thus, the drawing emphasizes the natural ideality and mathematical proportionality of man.

4. . The painting has a religious plot: it is dedicated to the Mother of God (Madonna) and the Christ Child. Despite its small size, the painting amazes with its purity, depth and beauty. But “Madonna Litta” is also shrouded in mystery and raises a lot of questions. Why does the baby have a chick in his hands? Why is Our Lady's dress torn in the chest area? Why is the picture made in dark colors?

5. . The painting was commissioned by the monks, but due to his move to Milan, the artist never completed the work. The canvas depicts Mary with the newborn Jesus and the Magi. According to one version, 29-year-old Leonardo himself is depicted among the men.

6th masterpiece –

“The Last Supper” is a fresco depicting Christ’s last supper. The work is no less mysterious and mysterious than the Mona Lisa.
The history of the creation of the canvas is shrouded in mysticism. The artist quickly drew portraits of all the characters in the picture.

However, it was impossible to find prototypes for Jesus Christ and Judas. Once da Vinci noticed a bright and spiritual young man in the church choir. The young man became the prototype of Christ. The search for a model for the drawing of Judas dragged on for years.

Later, da Vinci found the most vile person in his opinion. The prototype of Judas was a drunkard found in a sewer. Having already completed the picture, Da Vinci learned that Judas and Christ were drawn by him from the same person.

Among the mysteries of the Last Supper is Mary Magdalene. Da Vinci depicted her at the right hand of Christ, as a lawful wife. The marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene is also indicated by the fact that the contours of their bodies form the letter M - “Matrimonio” (marriage).

7th masterpiece – “Mona Lisa”, or “La Gioconda”

“Mona Lisa”, or “La Gioconda” is the most famous and mysterious painting by Leonardo da Vinci. To this day, art historians argue about who is depicted on the canvas. Among the popular versions: Lisa del Giocondo, Constanza d'Avalos, Pacifica Brandano, Isabella of Aragon, an ordinary Italian, da Vinci himself and even his student Salai in a woman's dress.

In 2005, it was proven that the painting depicts Lisa Gerandini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. This was indicated by the notes of da Vinci's friend Agostino Vespucci. Thus, both names become understandable: Mona - short for the Italian Madonna, my mistress and Gioconda - after the surname of Lisa Gerandini's husband.

Among the secrets of the painting is the demonic and at the same time divine smile of the Mona Lisa, which is capable of enchanting anyone. When you focus on your lips, they seem to smile more. They say that people who look at this detail for a long time go crazy.

A computer study has shown that Mona Lisa's smile simultaneously expresses happiness, anger, fear and disgust. Some scientists are convinced that the effect is caused by the absence of front teeth, eyebrows or the heroine’s pregnancy. Others say that the smile seems to disappear because it is in the low frequency range of light.

Researcher Smith-Kettlewell argues that the smile change effect is due to random noise in the human visual system.

The look of the Mona Lisa is also written in a special way. From whatever angle you look at the girl, it seems that she is looking at you.

The technique of writing La Gioconda is also impressive. The portrait, including the eyes and smile, represents a series of golden ratios. The face and hands form an isosceles triangle, and some details fit perfectly into the golden rectangle.

Secrets of Da Vinci's paintings: hidden messages and meanings

The paintings of Leonardo da Vinci are shrouded in mysteries that hundreds of scientists from all over the world are struggling with. In particular, Ugo Conti decided to use the mirror method. The scientist was prompted to this idea by da Vinci’s prose. The fact is that the author wrote from left to right, and his manuscripts can only be read with the help of a mirror. Conti applied the same approach to reading paintings.

It turned out that the characters in da Vinci’s paintings point with their eyes and fingers to the places where the mirror should be placed.

A simple technique reveals hidden images and figures:

1. In the painting “The Virgin and Child, Saint Anne and John the Baptist” discovered a number of demons. According to one version, this is the Devil, according to another, the Old Testament god Yahweh in the papal tiara. It was believed that this god “protects the soul from the vices of the body.”

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2. In the painting “John the Baptist”- “tree of life” with an Indian deity. A number of researchers believe that in this way the artist hid the mysterious painting “Adam and Eve in Paradise.” Da Vinci's contemporaries often mentioned the painting. For a long time it was believed that “Adam and Eve” was a separate picture.

3. On the “Mona Lisa” and “John the Baptist”- the head of a demon, the Devil or the god Yahweh in a helmet, somewhat similar to the hidden image on the canvas “Our Lady”. With this, Conti explains the mystery of the looks in the paintings.

4. On “Madonna of the Rocks”(“Madonna in the Grotto”) depicts the Virgin Mary, Jesus, John the Baptist and an Angel. But if you hold a mirror to the picture, you can see God and a number of biblical characters.

5. In the painting “The Last Supper” a hidden vessel is discovered in the hands of Jesus Christ. Researchers believe this is the Holy Grail. In addition, thanks to the mirror, the two apostles become knights.

6. In the painting “The Annunciation” hidden angelic, and in some versions alien, images.

Hugo Conti believes that you can find a hidden mystical drawing in every painting. The main thing is to use a mirror for this.

In addition to mirror codes, the Mona Lisa also stores secret messages under layers of paint. Graphic designers noticed that when the canvas is turned on its side, images of a buffalo, lion, monkey and bird become visible. Da Vinci thus told the world about the four Essences of man.

Some interesting facts about da Vinci include the following:

1. The genius was left-handed. Many scientists explain this by the master’s special writing style. Da Vinci always wrote in a mirror manner - from left to right, although he could write with his right hand.
2. The Creator was not constant: he quit one job and jumped to another, never returning to the previous one. Moreover, da Vinci moved to completely unrelated areas. For example, from art to anatomy, from literature to engineering.
3. Da Vinci was a talented musician and played the lyre beautifully.
4. The artist was a zealous vegetarian. Not only did he not eat animal food, but he also did not wear leather or silk. Da Vinci called people who eat meat “walking cemeteries.” But this did not prevent the scientist from being a master of ceremonies at court feasts and from creating a new profession - an “assistant” cook.
5. Da Vinci's passion for drawing knew no bounds. So, the master spent hours sketching the bodies of the hanged in detail.
6. According to one version, the scientist developed colorless and odorless poisons, as well as glass listening devices for Cesare Borgia.

They say that geniuses are born only when the world is ready to accept them. However, Leonardo da Vinci was far ahead of his era. The bulk of his discoveries and creations were appreciated only centuries later. Da Vinci proved by his own example that the human mind knows no boundaries.

Books were written and films were made about the titan of the Renaissance, and monuments were erected in his honor. Minerals, craters on the Moon and asteroids were named after the great scientist. And in 1994, they found a truly beautiful way to perpetuate the memory of the genius.

Breeders have developed a new variety of historical rose, called Rosa Leonardo da Vinci. The plant blooms continuously, does not burn out and does not freeze in the cold, like the memory of the “universal man”.

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