Who was Leonardo da Vinci?
Was he simply an artist, as many remember him, or more? He was born in 1452 in the small town of Vinci, in Tuscany, near Florence. He was the son of a wealthy Florentine notary and peasant woman. With his family, he moved to Florence in the mid-1460s. There, he received the best education possible. Around 1466 Leonardo was a studio boy, or trainee, to Andrea del Verrocchio, a famous painter and sculptor during his time. This experience introduced and opened up many new art forms and ideas to Leonardo. Then, in 1478, he became an independent artist. His early paintings include Ginevra de Benu (1474), The Adoration of the Magi (1481), Benois Madonna (1481), Saint Jerome (1481), and an altarpiece for the chapel of the Palazzo Vecchio. Only the Benois Madonna and the Ginevra de Benci were ever finished by da Vinci. He also painted some of the most beautiful and inspiring paintings of all time. These include The Virgin in the Rocks (early 1480s), The Last Supper (1495), Madonna and Child wi
This short book, aimed at upper elementary or older reluctant readers, captures the life of one of the great Renaissance figures. Supplementary material interspersed with da Vinci’s story and presented in bold font explains terms (e.g., Renaissance, Michelangelo) relevant to building a reader’s background. From the introductory overview of da Vinci’s life, the depth and range of his accomplishments in art, science, and engineering are described in easily understood language. Young readers will be able to relate to several failures he experienced when he tried new techniques, and his difficulty finishing projects despite initial enthusiasm. Includes a timeline of da Vinci’s life, timeline of the world 1450 1533, and bibliography for readers who want additional information. A wonderful introduction to the world as it existed in the middle ages as well as to a brilliant man whose work almost five hundred years ago anticipated today’s flying machines and robots.
