Introduction
Art is a strong element of human culture. Since the Paleolithic age, the world has recorded very many artists who have left great impressions in painting, drawing, singing, and carving. The Paleolithic age resulted in the development of stone tools and therefore this is seen by many as the beginning of modern day art and technology (Kemp 23). One of my most admired artists of all time is Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo was born in April 1452 and died in May 1519. He was a famous Italian artist who is famed for possessing different talents. This paper will explore more about Leonardo da Vinci as a favorite and most celebrated artist of the fifteenth century.
Leonardo da Vinci
From the Paleolithic age to our modern day, the world has witnessed numerous artists who have left great works and names behind. Such artists include painters, music composers, filmmakers, actors, writers, and even poets. For instance, the Italian Renaissance period saw a new change in art as new artists sprung up. One of these artists was Leonardo da Vinci who is well known for his numerous contributions to the world of art. Although Leonardo was a great painter, he has gone into the books of history as a great man who had extra talents in drawing, singing, architecture and writing (Kemp 64). At a very tender age, Leonardo attended school where he opted to become an engineer and a painter. He was able to adapt to the present requirements of the society and therefore most of his works were depictive of the issues faced.
Today Leonardo is seen by many historians as the person who presented a new idea to the world as a painter, architect, sculptor, painter, mathematician, an engineer, a writer and an inventor. He is known to have unquenchable desire for greatness and entertaining through philosophical approach. He is one of the greatest painters of the ancient time and also among the most talented individuals of all time. During his early years, Leonardo da Vinci was slowly by slowly interested in Florentine art which was being practice during his time (Stanley 78). During his career, the artist was able to travel and work in Venice, Bologna, Rome and Vienna.
Today Leonardo is renowned mainly as a great painter. Among his paintings, Mona Lisa and The Last Supper are the most famous. The Last Supper is also the most parodied portrait in the history of the world. It has as well been reproduced for religious purposes. Another drawing of Vitruvian Man has as well been regarded by many historians and artists as the most iconic portrait representing human culture (Stanley 92). Most of the works by Leonardo have attracted scholars as the origin of human civilization. His notebooks have been noted to contain scientific sketches, thoughts, diagrams and paintings with some sense of technology in them.
Although Leonardo had a wide range of talent, the most recognizable works of art include his paintings. For the better part of his life, the artist spent a lot of time painting and producing other works of art. Modern artists have acknowledged that most his works of painting still remain the supreme masterpieces to have been produced in the history of the universe. Most of Leonardo's paintings are very famous for a number of qualities which have remained significant till our modern day (Kemp 71). Because of this reason, majority of students today have been engaged in detailed discussions and analysis of his paintings.
Among these characteristics include uniqueness, innovation and creativity. During his painting career, Leonardo da Vinci made sure he used gestures, expression and emotion. This is something that had not been achieved by earlier painters. Another important thing about his paintings was that he represented philosophical ideas, botany, geology and religious images (Phillips 18). He is also known to have introduced the use of human forms in presentation of figurative composition. He achieved this by employing different tones and contrast in his images. All these qualities therefore interacted together to form very attractive and yet appealing works of painting. Such details can be viewed in The Virgin of the Rocks, The Last Supper and Mona Lisa. As years went by, Leonardo continued to produce more paintings and drawings which have remained till this very day. Most of his works of art have remained very influential and appealing even in our modern age.
Apart from painting and drawing, Leonardo da Vinci was also recognized as a great technological genius. During such age in time, Leonardo was able to conceptualize a tank, a calculator and solar power. Although the presentations he gave never made much sense during the time, today we should acknowledge that modern technologies are based on this idea. By so doing he greatly influenced future scientific interventions and innovations which became significant later in the eighteenth century (Phillips 54). Without such kind of innovation may be such technologies might have taken longer to become a reality.
Today we cannot talk of painting and art without mentioning the name of Leonardo da Vinci. Today this artist is remembered best for most of his outstanding works which have been studied in different institutions, colleges and as part of theological studies. Although most of his fame is contributed by his works of art, it is also acknowledgeable that Leonardo had astonishing and different talents which define our modern world (Kemp 77). For instance, some historians have been interested in the biography of the artist as great painter, others as an engineer, a sculptor, musician, and an architect. The artist was as well able to contribute equally to these different fields. He strongly believed in doing everything as if he had had a specific calling to that duty. Another important thing is that Leonardo presented a new way of recording information through journals. It is this kind of practice which saw most of his works preserved nicely up to this present day.
Conclusion
From the above discussions, it is undeniable that Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greatest artists who lived. At a very young age, Leonardo was able to produce appealing paintings, drawings, inventions and ideas which have remained significant even in our present day life. Most of the works by the artists have also been reproduced and displayed in museums thus making his the most celebrated artist of the fifteenth century (Phillips 65). As well, the artist has remained famous for having mentored new scientist ideas and inventions which are used even today. Although most his works scientific works were not recorded, it should be agreed that such productions are still significant. Many historians have currently been interested in the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci in order to examine some of other contributions in the world of art. This is because the artist was multi-talented and helped in the production of music, writing, keeping journals and architecture. In conclusion, Leonardo has remained as an outstanding and most celebrated artist of all time.
