A Man of Many Talents

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When people around the world see a portrait of a mysterious woman with dark hair and a slight smile they instantly think of the Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci is best known for the structure of his artwork and the precise painting of the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. His unique techniques in his artwork, such as sfumato, fresco and chiaroscuro defined his paintings as breathtaking and unforgettable. Compared to other Renaissance artists, this amazing artist from Vinci, Italy, was remarkably ahead of his time, filling his notebooks with scientific observations, ideas for inventions and sketches of anything that caught his attention. His artwork had an influence on other artists and viewers long after his death because of perspective and intricate detail. A Renaissance Man is an individual who has the ability to excel in a variety of activities and subjects. Leonardo da Vinci, known as the brilliant “Renaissance Man” was not only a famous artist during the Italian Renaissance, but also a master engineer, scientist, and mathematician.
Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci Italy. His strong love for animals and nature as a child had a large impact on his creativity and his future artwork (Boucquey). Being an illegitimate son, Leonardo da Vinci could not attend a university and had limited career options. His father, San Piero encouraged him to become an artist, which was a highly respected career during the fifteenth century. Leonardo da Vinci started out as a garzone or a studio boy at the Andrea del Verrochio Studio (Tracy 14-15). It was in this studio that Leonardo da Vinci mastered painting, sculpting and architecture (Boucquey). At eighteen years old, this talented young man surpassed his maste...

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