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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 da Vinci (1452-1519)was a critical figure in the late Renaissance. He Not only is widely he regarded as one of the greatest artists who ever lived. However, but he was so much more than this he was also a polymath and is often referred made remarkable contributions to as a ‘Universal Genius’. Among the subjects that he contributed to were scienceengineering, engineeringarchitecture, mechanicsscience, urban planning, cartographercartography, philosophy, and anatomyduring the Renaissance. While some of this work was done in secret, he also was a prominent artist, architect, and othersengineer. Leonardo da Vinci was the quintessential Renaissance man.

Leonardo is recognized as making a unique contribution to the Renaissance, that period of time which that 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.

====The life of Why was Leonardo Da Vinci==important?==

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  While he received little or no formal education. We do know that as a child, at the age of 15, he was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio (1435–1488). He was one of the leading artists of his day and was a great influence on greatly influenced the young Leonardo, especially in his dynamic representations of the human figure. After completing his apprenticeship, he became an assistant to Verrocchio, and his extraordinary skills became well-known. His artistic style was considered to be extraordinarily original because of his unique use of light and shade. <ref>(McCurdy, p. 34)</ref> In either 1477/1488, Leonardo set up his studio and soon was receiving significant commissions.  He was accused of being gay at this time, and if he had been found guilty, he could have been executed. Leonardo had the charges dropped, but his reputation suffered. In 1481 his reputation rebounded after he painted the Adoration of the Magi. This work made him famous in Florence and beyond. However, the work was unfinished because he was invited to Milan by its powerful Duke. Leonardo 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. At this time, he produced one of the most famous works in all art history, the Last Supper. During his time in Milan, he also began to study dead bodies and worked as a military engineer secretly. Da Vinci also created some bronze sculptures for the Duke of Milan, none of which sadly have survived.  ==Why did Leonardo Da Vinci flee Italy?==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, Da Vinci, 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 masterpieces. In 1506, Leonardo worked 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. Leonardo worked on the painting for the rest of his life and took it with him on his travels. Da Vinci returned to Milan in 1506, and he worked on an equestrian statue. Contemporaneously, he continued his scientific studies. In particular, he was fascinated with anatomy, and this dramatically influenced his art greatly. During this time, he filled his notebooks with his observations, ideas, and drawings on various subjects. One common theme in his notebook is his fascination with movement, growth, and action.  ==Why did Leonardo Da Vinci move to Rome?==In 1516, he was invited to Rome, but his time here was not that productive. While he was still esteemed as an artist, his popularity had somewhat declined. This was not surprising because Da Vinci became an increasingly reclusive figure. Still, he continued to fill his notebooks and made many plans for future projects, but most of these projects never came to fruition.  Still, he was regarded as a genius and frequently consulted with 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 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 make plans for projects, none of which he executed. He died in 1519 at the home that was given to him by the French king. == How did Da Vinci influence Art? ==[[File: Leonardo 2.jpg|350px|thumb|left|Leonardo’s ‘The Last Supper’]]During the early Renaissance, painting had advanced greatly because of great artists such as Botticelli and Verrocchio. However, Leonardo was to raise painting to new heights, and his work is intrinsically important but very influential. His work was revolutionary because it was so realistic and expressive.  Leonardo used his anatomical studies to understand the human body and especially its actions better. Da Vinci's studies allowed him to create images of people that were highly realistic and very dynamic. The emotions expressed by Leonardo are much more naturalistic than previous artists.<ref>Hall, Marcia B. Color and meaning: practice and theory in Renaissance painting (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992), p 117</ref> Leonardo inspired many painters to adopt a more naturalistic approach. He wrote about his painting techniques in his widely read <i>Treatise on Painting</i>.  Leonardo was a master of painting techniques, including chiaroscuro, which is light and shade treatment. Many incorrectly assume that Leonardo invented this technique, but he certainly perfected it. Many subsequent painters followed his method.

After the completion of Based on his apprenticeshipscientific studies, he became an assistant to VerrocchioLeonardo was also a master of linear perspective, and his extraordinary skills became well-knownhe exceeded all those who went before him. His artistic style was considered to be originalHe developed new ways of representing perspective, primarily because of and this gave his unique use of light painting more depth and shademade them appear more realistic. <ref>(McCurdy, p. 34)</ref> In either 1477/1488, Leonardo set up his studio and soon was receiving significant commissions.

At this timePerhaps his most significant contribution to the painting was developing the sfumato technique, he was accused of being a homosexualnew way to blend glazes. This technique made the figures in a painting living and breathing subjects. Leonardo's techniques and styles were revolutionary, and if he had been found guiltythey, in particular, he could have been executed. Leonardo had influenced the charges droppedother great Florentine, but his reputation sufferedMichelangelo. In 1481 his reputation rebounded after he painted The frescoes of Michelangelo became more dynamic and expressive as a result of the Adoration work of Leonardo. Michelangelo's work changed even though the Magi This work made him famous in Florence two great artists did not like each other and beyondwere bitter rivals.

HoweverDa Vinci also inspired other High Renaissance painters, such as Raphael (1483-1520). Da Vinci’s treatment of the Virgin Mary was very influential in the paintings of Raphael. Among the others whose work was unfinished because he was invited to Milan shaped by its powerful Duke. Leonardo impressed the Duke, great Florentine was Filippino Lippi (1457–1504) and he presented himself as a skilled engineerdel Sarto (1486–1531). 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 study dead bodies and worked as a military engineer secretlysignificant influence on sculpture. Da Vinci also created some bronze His original sculptures for the Duke of Milan, none of which sadly have survivedare now lost.

In 1499However, when at the French invaded Italytime, Leonardo fled they proved enormously influential on the city and stayed in Venicedevelopment of Renaissance sculpture. Here he The Florentine was active as a military engineer also interested in architecture and drew up plans helped to create a series of naval defenses. In 1500, Da Vinci, who was by now one of design the cupola for the most famous men Cathedral in all of Italy, returned to his native FlorenceMilan. Here he continued to work He wrote an unpublished treatise on several artistic projects, but he appears to have left architecture and produced many uncompletedarchitectural drawings. Many of the projects from this period are only known from Leonardo’s drawings<ref>Kemp, which are considered to be masterpiecesMartin. In 1506, Leonardo worked for a time as a military engineer for da Vinci: the notorious Cesare Borgiamarvelous works of nature and man (Oxford, Oxford, University Press, 2007), who was ruthlessly carving a state for himself out of Papal lands in central Italyp 113</ref> These inspired many architects, including the great Bramante.

Around this period, he painted his most famous work, the Mona Lisa. == How did Leonardo worked on the painting for the rest of his life da Vinci influence Renaissance science and took it with him on his travels. engineering? ==Da Vinci returned to Milan in 1506, and he worked on an equestrian statue. Contemporaneously, he continued his scientific studies. In particular, he was fascinated with anatomyby science, engineering, and this dramatically influenced his art, greatlymechanics. During this time, he filled He wrote about these subjects copiously in his notebooks with his observations, ideas, and drawings . His theory of knowledge was based on a range the study of subjectsnature. One common theme in his notebook Leonardo was also intrigued by the human body, and he is his fascination with movement, growth, believed to have dissected up to 30 human bodies and actionmade many anatomical drawings.

In 1516Moreover, he was invited to Romea great observer, but his time here was not and he made many empirical observations that productive. While he was still esteemed were insightful in areas as diverse as an artist, his popularity had somewhat declinedhydraulic engineering and town planning. This emphasis on empiricism was not surprising radical at the time because the authority of the Church and the Ancient Classical authors was unchallenged, and the received wisdom.<ref>Randall, John Herman. "The place of Leonardo Da Vinci became an increasingly reclusive figurein the emergence of modern science. Still, he continued " Journal of the History of Ideas (1953): 191-202 </ref> Leonardo's ideas at this time were more akin to fill his notebooks modern ideas on science and made many plans for future projects, but most of these projects never came to fruitionlearning.

StillHowever, he was regarded as a genius and his influence was frequently consulted with limited by many leading figures on both artistic issues and engineering projectsthe power of the Church.<ref>McCurdy, p 113</ref> The French king, Francis IFor example, invited Leonardo and could not publish his disciples to findings on his court in Fontainebleauanatomical studies because the dissection of bodies was considered sinful by the Catholic hierarchy. Leonardo became He could have even prosecuted by the official court paintercivil authorities. The French monarch also provided him with a house. In France, Leonardo continued This is why he was forced to write in keep many of his notebooks discoveries and to make plans for projects, none of which he executedideas secret. He died The Florentine wrote his ideas in 1519 at the home that was given his notebooks using mirror writing not to him by the French kingbe easily deciphered.

====Influence on art====[[File: Leonardo 2.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Leonardo’s ‘The Last Supper’]]During the early RenaissanceAs a result, painting had advanced greatly, because much of great artists such as Botticelli his scientific achievements and Verrocchio. However, Leonardo was to raise painting to new heights and his work is observations were not only intrinsically important but very influential. His work was revolutionary because it was so realistic and expressive. Leonardo used his anatomical studies to better understand the human body and especially its actions. 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>Hall, Marcia B. Color and meaning: practice and theory in Renaissance painting (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992), p 117</ref>. Leonardo inspired many painters to adopt disclosed until a century or more naturalistic approachafter his death. His ideas on painting were presented in If Da Vinci had published his Treatise work on Paintingscience, which was widely read. Leonardo was a master of painting techniques, including that of chiaroscuro, which is the treatment such as his study of the light and shade. Many incorrectly assume that Leonardo invented this techniqueheart, but he certainly perfected it. His technique was followed by many subsequent painters. Based on his scientific studies, Leonardo was 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 greatest contribution to the painting was would ‘have advanced the development march of the sfumato technique, science by a new way to blend glazeswhole century. This made the figures in a painting living and breathing subjects. The techniques and styles developed by Leonardo were revolutionary and they’’ <ref> Reti, in particular, influenced the other great Florentine, MichelangeloLadislao. The frescoes of Michelangelo became more dynamic and expressive, as a result of the work of "Leonardo. This was despite the fact that the two great artists did not like each other and were bitter rivals. The genius from da Vinci later inspired other painters of the High Renaissance such as Raphael (1483-1520). 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 del Sarto (1486–1531). Leonardo was also a very important influence on sculpture. His original sculptures are now lost. However, at the time they proved enormously influential on graphic arts: the development early invention of Renaissance sculpturerelief-etching. " The Florentine was also interested in architecture and helped to design the cupola for the Cathedral in Milan. He wrote an unpublished treatise on architecture and produced many architectural drawings <ref>KempBurlington Magazine 113, Martinno. Leonardo da Vinci: the marvelous works of nature and man 817 (Oxford, Oxford, University Press, 20071971), p 113: 189</ref>. These inspired many architects including the great Bramante.

====Leonardo and science====The great Florentine 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 the authority of the Church and the Ancient Classical authors was unchallenged and the 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>. 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 his anatomical studies because the dissection of bodies was considered sinful by the Catholic hierarchy and he could have even prosecuted by the civil authorities. This is why he was forced to keep many of his discoveries and ideas secret. The Florentine wrote his ideas in his notebooks using mirror writing so that they could not be easily deciphered. As a result, much of his scientific achievements and observations were not disclosed until a century or more after his death. 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> Reti, Ladislao. "Leonardo da Vinci and the graphic arts: the early invention of relief-etching." The Burlington Magazine 113, no. 817 (1971): 189</ref>. However, during During his lifetime Leonardo did encourage some to privilege observation and experiment over the teachings of the Church and the Classics, which was to be very influential critical in the later phase of the Renaissance. Leonardo could be said to have helped to change the intellectual environment of the Renaissance to one that was much more modern in outlook.

====Was Leonardo as da Vinci an inventor==? ==

Leonardo was also an inventor , and his notebooks are filled with many plans or drafts for inventions. Da Vinci drafted plans for a flying machine, diving suit, parachute, anemometer, armored car, self-propelled car, and even a robotic knight. Leonardo was one of the most prolific inventors in history. None of his 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 Gareth Rees. The inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. Phaidon Press, 1978, p 17</ref>. This was  These ideas were not finished because Leonardo was not very good at finishing projects and he often . 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, this was why . 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 Renaissance and 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.

====Conclusion====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 a more modern an outlookthat veered from the day's teachings. 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.