Leonardo da Vinci is one of those historical figures that seem inexhaustible. Although he is known by masterpieces such as Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, his genius goes far beyond painting. In this article, we explore three little commented aspects of his life and work, which will make you rediscover the Florentine polymata from a new perspective.
Where everything began: a genius born in the hills of Tuscana
Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, a small Italian town that proudly bears his name. Illegitimate son of a notary and a peasant, showed from an early age an exceptional talent for drawing and music. His artistic training formally began in the Andrea of Verrocchio workshop, in Florence, where he shared space with figures such as Botticelli and Perugino. This stimulating environment allowed him to absorb the techniques of the early rebirth and laid the foundations for his subsequent take -off as a multidisciplinary artist and thinker.
Beyond art: the notebooks of an obsessive of knowledge
Leonardo did not settle for dominating the painting. He studied architecture, mechanics, anatomy, botany and even geology. Their findings overturned them in notebooks where he combined detailed drawings and written notes on the back of mirror. Because? Maybe to protect your ideas or simply to avoid staining the ink with your left hand. They appear from flying machine designs to submarine planes. Some manuscripts were looted by Napoleon; Others, such as the famous Leicester codex, ended up in the hands of Bill Gates. His obsession to understand the functioning of the world made him the maximum exponent of the Renaissance ideal.
Three works that summarize a mind without limits
Although choosing a single creation of Da Vinci is almost impossible, there are three that immortalize it: The Last Supper, Mona Lisa y The man of vitruvio. The first, located in Milan, redefines religious representation with drama and depth. The second, exhibited in the Louvre, continues to be bewitched by the enigmatic smile of its protagonist. And the third, an anatomical study, is a universal symbol of proportion and harmony. Each work condenses its obsession with beauty, science and formal perfection.
A legacy that transcends time
Leonardo died in 1519, but his legacy remains more alive than ever. He was admired not only for his technique, but for his way of thinking: joining art and science as two sides of the same currency. Their ideas influenced the entire rebirth and continue to inspire artists, engineers and scientists. His life proves that curiosity can be the most powerful force to transform the world. Because if something left us Leonardo, it is that true knowledge has no limits.
Fuente: National geographic.
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