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==Introduction==The Italian Renaissance was one of the most remarkable periods in all of Western History. It was an era of great cultural achievements that laid the foundation of the modern world and it produced many remarkable individuals. One of the most remarkable of these was Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists who ever lived. However, he was so much more than this he was also a polymath and is often referred to as a ‘Universal Genius’. Among the subjects that he contributed to were science, engineering, mechanics, urban planning, cartographer, philosophy, anatomy, and others. Leonardo is recognized as making a unique contribution to the Renaissance, that period of time which saw the re-birth of learning and a move to a secular worldview. The Florentine artist and polymath made a decisive contribution to this epoch. He decisively influenced artistic trends in his own time and in the later Renaissance. His interest in science and experiment inspired many humanists to study the world and nature. He While he was also a great inventor, but his inventions had little impact, on his own era.[[File: Leonardo 1.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Leonardo’s drawing of Vitruvian Man]]==The life of Leonardo Da Vinci==Leonardo was born in 1452, in the village of Vinci, outside the city of Florence. His father was a wealthy lawyer and his mother was a peasant woman. His parents were not married, and Leonardo was illegitimate, which carried with it a great deal of social stigma, at the time. He could not legally bear his father’s surname and so he was named after his native village, Vinci <ref> McCurdy, Edward. The mind of Leonardo da Vinci (London, Courier Corporation, 2013), p 4 </ref>. It appears that the young boy received little or no formal education. We do know that at the age of 15 he Why was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio (1435–1488). He was one of the leading artists of his day and was a great influence on the young Leonardo, especially in his dynamic representations of the human figure. After the completion of his apprenticeship, the young man from Vinci became an assistant to Verrocchio and his skill soon became well-known. His style was considered to be very original, especially his use of light and shade (McCurdy, p. 34</ref>In either 1477/1488, Leonardo set up his own studio and soon was receiving major commissions. At this time, he was accused of being a homosexual and if he had been found guilty he could have been executed. Leonardo was able to have the charges dropped but his reputation suffered. In 1481 he painted the Adoration of the Magi, which made him famous in Florence and beyond. However, the work was unfinished because he was invited to Milan by its powerful Duke. Leonardo greatly impressed the Duke and he presented himself as a skilled engineer. Leonardo painted several outstanding works in Milan such as the Virgin of the Rock. It was also at this time that he produced one of the most famous works in all art history the Last Supper. During his time in Milan he also began to secretly study dead bodies and also worked as a military engineer. Da Vinci also created some bronze sculptures for the Duke of Milan, none of which sadly have survived. In 1499, when the French invaded Italy, Leonardo fled the city and stayed in Venice. Here he was active as a military engineer and drew up plans to create a series of naval defenses. In 1500 the artist, who was by now one of the most famous men in all of Italy returned to his native Florence. Here he continued to work on several artistic projects, but he appears to have left many uncompleted. Many of the projects from this period are only known from Leonardo’s drawings, which are considered to be masterpieces. In 1506, Leonardo worked for a time as a military engineer for the notorious Cesare Borgia, who was ruthlessly carving a state for himself out of Papal lands in central Italy. Around this period, he painted his most famous work, the Mona Lisa. The identity of the woman in the portrait has never been established but Leonardo worked on it for the rest of his life and took it with him on his travels. The Florentine returned to Milan in 1506 and he worked on an equestrian statue and continued his scientific studies. In particular he was fascinated with anatomy and this influenced his art, greatly. During these years he filled his notebooks with his observations, ideas, and drawings on a range of subjects. One common theme in his notebook is his fascination with movement, growth, and action. In 1516, he was invited to Rome, but his time here was not that productive. While he was still esteemed as an artist, his work was not as popular as it once was. Da Vinci who was a rather reclusive figure, continued to fill his notebooks and made many plans for future projects, most of which never came to fruition. He was regarded as a genius and was frequently consulted by many leading figures, on artistic issues and on engineering projects <ref>McCurdy, p 113</ref>. The French king Francis I invited Leonardo and his disciples to his court in Fontainebleau. Leonardo was given great honors by Francis and he became the official court painter among other distinctions. The French monarch provided him with a house and Leonardo continued to write in his notebooks and to make plans for projects, none of which he executed. He died in 1519 in the home that he was given to him by the French king. important?====

==Influence on art==During Leonardo was born in 1452, in the early Renaissancevillage of Vinci, painting had advanced greatly, because outside the city of great artists such as Botticelli and VerrocchioFlorence. HoweverHis father was a wealthy lawyer, Leonardo was to raise painting to new heights and his work is not also intrinsically important but very influentialmother was a peasant woman. His work parents were not married, and Leonardo was revolutionary because illegitimate, which carried with it was so realistic and expressivea great deal of social stigma at the time. Leonardo used He could not legally bear his anatomical studies to better understand the human body father’s surname, and especially its actionsso he was named after his native village, Vinci. This allowed him to create images of people that are highly realistic and very dynamic. The emotions expressed by Leonardo are much more naturalistic than previous artists <ref>HallMcCurdy, Marcia BEdward. Color and meaning: practice and theory in Renaissance painting The mind of Leonardo da Vinci (Cambridge: Cambridge University PressLondon, Courier Corporation, 19922013), p 1174 </ref> While he received little or no formal education as a child, at 15 he was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio (1435–1488). Leonardo inspired many painters to adopt He was one of the leading artists of his day and was a more naturalistic approach. His ideas great influence on painting were presented the young Leonardo, especially in his Treatise on Paintingdynamic representations of the human figure. After the completion of his apprenticeship, he became an assistant to Verrocchio, which was widely readand his extraordinary skills became well-known. Leonardo His artistic style was a master considered to be extraordinarily original because of painting techniques, including that of chiaroscuro, which is the treatment his unique use of the light and shade. <ref>(McCurdy, p. 34)</ref> Many incorrectly assume that In either 1477/1488, Leonardo invented set up his studio and soon was receiving significant commissions.  At this techniquetime, but he certainly perfected it. His technique was followed by many subsequent painters. Based on his scientific studiesaccused of being a homosexual, Leonardo was a master of linear perspective and if he exceeded all those who went before himhad been found guilty, he could have been executed. He developed new ways of representing perspective and this gave Leonardo had the charges dropped, but his painting more depth and made them appear more realisticreputation suffered. Perhaps In 1481 his greatest contribution to the painting was reputation rebounded after he painted the development Adoration of the sfumato technique, a new way to blend glazes. Magi This work made the figures him famous in a painting living Florence and breathing subjectsbeyond. The techniques and styles developed However, the work was unfinished because he was invited to Milan by its powerful Duke. Leonardo were revolutionary impressed the Duke, and they, he presented himself as a skilled engineer. Leonardo painted several outstanding works in particular, influenced Milan such as the Virgin of the other great Florentine, MichelangeloRock. The frescoes It was also at this time that he produced one of Michelangelo became more dynamic the most famous works in all art history the Last Supper. During his time in Milan, he also began to study dead bodies and expressive, worked as a result military engineer secretly. Da Vinci also created some bronze sculptures for the Duke of Milan, none of which sadly have survived.  In 1499, when the work of French invaded Italy, Leonardofled the city and stayed in Venice. This Here he was despite the fact that the two great artists did not like each other active as a military engineer and were bitter rivalsdrew up plans to create a series of naval defenses. The genius from In 1500, Da Vinci later inspired other painters , who was by now one of the High Renaissance such as Raphael (1483-1520)most famous men in all of Italy, returned to his native Florence. Here he continued to work on several artistic projects, but he appears to have left many uncompleted. Da Vinci’s treatment Many of the Virgin Mary projects from this period are only known from Leonardo’s drawings, which are considered to be masterpieces. In 1506, Leonardo worked for a time as a military engineer for the notorious Cesare Borgia, who was very influential ruthlessly carving a state for himself out of Papal lands in central Italy.  Around this period, he painted his most famous work, the paintings of RaphaelMona Lisa. Among Leonardo worked on the others whose work was shaped by painting for the great Florentine was Filippino Lippi (1457–1504) rest of his life and del Sarto (1486–1531)took it with him on his travels. Leonardo was also a very important influence Da Vinci returned to Milan in 1506, and he worked on sculpturean equestrian statue. His original sculptures are now lostContemporaneously, he continued his scientific studies. HoweverIn particular, he was fascinated with anatomy, and this dramatically influenced his art, at the greatly. During this time they proved enormously influential , he filled his notebooks with his observations, ideas, and drawings on the development a range of Renaissance sculpturesubjects. The Florentine was also interested One common theme in architecture his notebook is his fascination with movement, growth, and helped action.  In 1516, he was invited to design the cupola for the Cathedral in MilanRome, but his time here was not that productive. He wrote While he was still esteemed as an unpublished treatise on architecture and produced many architectural drawings <ref>Kempartist, Martinhis popularity had somewhat declined. Leonardo da This was not surprising because Da Vinci: the marvelous works of nature became an increasingly reclusive figure. Still, he continued to fill his notebooks and man (Oxfordmade many plans for future projects, Oxfordbut most of these projects never came to fruition.  Still, University Press, 2007)he was regarded as a genius and was frequently consulted with by many leading figures on both artistic issues and engineering projects.<ref>McCurdy, p 113</ref> The French king, Francis I, invited Leonardo and his disciples to his court in Fontainebleau. Leonardo became the official court painter. The French monarch also provided him with a house. In France, Leonardo continued to write in his notebooks and to make plans for projects, none of which he executed. These inspired many architects including He died in 1519 at the home that was given to him by the great BramanteFrench king.  ====How did Da Vinci influence on Art?====[[File: Leonardo 2.jpg|200px350px|thumb|left|Leonardo’s ‘The Last Supper’]]==Leonardo and science==The great Florentine was fascinated by scienceDuring the early Renaissance, engineeringpainting had advanced greatly, because of great artists such as Botticelli and mechanics. He wrote about these subjects copiously in his notebooks. His theory of knowledge was based on the study of natureVerrocchio. However, Leonardo was also intrigued by the human body and he is believed to have dissected up raise painting to 30 human bodies and made many anatomical drawings. Moreovernew heights, he was a great observer and he made many empirical observations that were insightful, in areas as diverse as hydraulic engineering and town planninghis work is not only intrinsically important but very influential. This emphasis on empiricism His work was radical at the time revolutionary because the authority of the Church and the Ancient Classical authors it was unchallenged so realistic and the received wisdom <ref>Randall, John Hermanexpressive. "The place of  Leonardo Da Vinci in the emergence of modern science." Journal of the History of Ideas (1953): 191-202 </ref>. The Florentine’s ideas at this time are more akin to modern ideas on science and learning. However, his influence was limited by the power of the Church. For example, Leonardo could not publish his findings on used his anatomical studies because to understand the dissection of bodies was considered sinful by the Catholic hierarchy human body and he could have even prosecuted by the civil authoritiesespecially its actions better. This is why he was forced Da Vinci's studies allowed him to keep many create images of his discoveries people that were highly realistic and ideas secretvery dynamic. The Florentine wrote his ideas in his notebooks using mirror writing so that they could not be easily deciphered. As a result, emotions expressed by Leonardo are much of his scientific achievements and observations were not disclosed until a century or more after his deathnaturalistic than previous artists. If the Florentine had published his work on science, such as his study of the heart, the ‘have advanced the march of science by a whole century’’ <ref> RetiHall, LadislaoMarcia B. "Leonardo da Vinci Color and meaning: practice and the graphic artstheory in Renaissance painting (Cambridge: the early invention of relief-etching." The Burlington Magazine 113Cambridge University Press, no. 817 (19711992): 189, p 117</ref>Leonardo inspired many painters to adopt a more naturalistic approach. However, during He wrote about his painting techniques in his lifetime widely read <i>Treatise on Painting</i>.  Leonardo did encourage some to privilege observation and experiment over the teachings was a master of painting techniques, including that of the Church and the Classicschiaroscuro, which was to be very influential in is the later phase treatment of the Renaissancelight and shade. Many incorrectly assume that Leonardo could be said to have helped to change the intellectual environment of the Renaissance to one that was much more modern in outlookinvented this technique, but he certainly perfected it. Many subsequent painters followed his method.

==Leonardo as an inventor==Based on his scientific studies, Leonardo was also an inventor a master of linear perspective, and he exceeded all those who went before him. He developed new ways of representing perspective, and this gave his painting more depth and made them appear more realistic.  Perhaps his notebooks are filled with many plans or drafts for inventionsmost significant contribution to the painting was the development of the sfumato technique, a new way to blend glazes. Da Vinci drafted plans for This technique made the figures in a flying machinepainting living and breathing subjects. The techniques and styles developed by Leonardo were revolutionary, and they, diving suitin particular, parachuteinfluenced the other great Florentine, anemometerMichelangelo. The frescoes of Michelangelo became more dynamic and expressive, armored caras a result of the work of Leonardo. Michelangelo's work changed even though the two great artists did not like each other and were bitter rivals.  Da Vinci also inspired other painters of the High Renaissance, selfsuch as Raphael (1483-propelled car, 1520). Da Vinci’s treatment of the Virgin Mary was very influential in the paintings of Raphael. Among the others whose work was shaped by the great Florentine was Filippino Lippi (1457–1504) and even a robotic knightdel Sarto (1486–1531). Leonardo was one also a significant influence on sculpture. His original sculptures are now lost.  However, at the time, they proved enormously influential on the development of Renaissance sculpture. The Florentine was also interested in architecture and helped to design the most prolific inventors cupola for the Cathedral in historyMilan. None of his inventions were ever developed into practical He wrote an unpublished treatise on architecture and working machinesproduced many architectural drawings. They remained only designs on paper, even though there were ground-breaking ideas <ref> Gibbs-Smith, Charles HarvardKemp, and Gareth ReesMartin. The inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. Phaidon : the marvelous works of nature and man (Oxford, Oxford, University Press, 19782007), p 17113</ref>These inspired many architects, including the great Bramante. ====How did Leonardo da Vinci influence Renaissance science and engineering?====Da Vinci was fascinated by science, engineering, and mechanics. He wrote about these subjects copiously in his notebooks. His theory of knowledge was based on the study of nature. Leonardo was also intrigued by the human body and he is believed to have dissected up to 30 human bodies and made many anatomical drawings.  Moreover, he was a great observer and he made many empirical observations that were insightful, in areas as diverse as hydraulic engineering and town planning. This emphasis on empiricism was radical at the time because Leonardo the authority of the Church and the Ancient Classical authors was not very good at finishing projects unchallenged and he often lacked the resources received wisdom.<ref>Randall, John Herman. "The place of Leonardo Da Vinci in the emergence of modern science." Journal of the History of Ideas (1953): 191-202 </ref> Leonardo's ideas at this time were more akin to put his modern ideas into practiceon science and learning.  However, such as for his plans for a robotic knightinfluence was limited by the power of the Church. His designs for various inventions were too far ahead For example, Leonardo could not publish his findings on his anatomical studies because the dissection of their time bodies was considered sinful by the Catholic hierarchy and would not he could have been understood even prosecuted by his contemporariesthe civil authorities. Moreover, the technology This is why he was not available forced to develop keep many of his discoveries and ideas secret. The Florentine wrote his innovative ideas, this was why It was only in later centuries his notebooks using mirror writing so that they could not be easily deciphered.  As a result, much of his designs scientific achievements and observations were appreciatednot disclosed until a century or more after his death. While Leonardo can be credited with having great ideasIf Da Vinci had published his work on science, such as his inventions made little or no impact on study of the heart, he would ‘have advanced the Renaissancemarch of science by a whole century. ’’ <ref>GibbsReti, Ladislao. "Leonardo da Vinci and the graphic arts: the early invention of relief-Smith et aletching." The Burlington Magazine 113, pno. 145817 (1971): 189</ref> During his lifetime Leonardo did encourage some to privilege observation and experiment over the teachings of the Church and the Classics, which was critical in the later phase of the Renaissance. Leonardo helped to change the intellectual environment of the Renaissance to one that was much more modern in outlook. ====Was Leonardo da Vinci an inventor? ====

==Conclusion==Leonardo is one of the towering figures in the development of the Renaissance and indeed Western culture. He was a remarkable man also an inventor and a genuine polymath who had extraordinary insights and achievements. The Florentine was able to develop new techniques in painting that revolutionized the art form and it inspired his notebooks are filled with many of the greatest painters of the Renaissance, such as Raphaelplans or drafts for inventions. Leonardo had Da Vinci drafted plans for a great influence on sculpture and architecture in Italy during his lifetime and after. Leonardo was also a scientist and interested in a wide range of subjects. His scientific discoveriesflying machine, diving suit, parachute, anemometer, such as those in anatomy were kept secretarmored car, largely out of fear of the Church. Howeverself-propelled car, his approach to study and his interest in nature, inspired many to adopt even a more modern outlookrobotic knight. Leonardo was a designer and inventor one of geniusthe most prolific inventors in history. However, most None of his ideas inventions were ever developed into practical and working machines. They remained only designs on paper, even though there were ground-breaking ideas .<ref> Gibbs-Smith, Charles Harvard, and often impracticalGareth Rees. Therefore, his The inventions made little impact on the Renaissanceof Leonardo da Vinci.Phaidon Press, 1978, p 17</ref>

These ideas were not finished because Leonardo was not very good at finishing projects. He also lacked the resources to put his ideas into practice, such as for his plans for a robotic knight. His designs for various inventions were too far ahead of their time and would not have been understood by his contemporaries. Moreover, the technology was not available to develop his innovative ideas. It was only in later centuries that his designs were appreciated. While Leonardo can be credited with having great ideas, his inventions made little or no impact on the Renaissance. <ref>Gibbs-Smith et al, p. 145</ref> ====What was Leonardi da Vinci's impact on the World?====Leonardo is one of the towering figures in the development of the Renaissance and, indeed, Western culture. He was a remarkable man and a genuine polymath who had extraordinary insights and achievements. The Florentine was able to develop new techniques in painting that revolutionized the art form, and it inspired many of the greatest painters of the Renaissance, such as Raphael. Leonardo had a great influence on sculpture and architecture in Italy during his lifetime and after. Leonardo was also a scientist and interested in a wide range of subjects. His scientific discoveries, such as those in anatomy, were kept secret, largely out of fear of the Church.  However, his approach to study and his interest in nature inspired many people to adopt an outlook that veered from the teachings of the day. Leonardo was a designer and inventor of genius. However, most of his ideas remained only ideas and often impractical. Therefore, his inventions made little impact on the Renaissance. ====Further Reading====Kemp, Martin. Leonardo da Vinci: the marvellous marvelous works of nature and man. Oxford University Press, 2007.