“Truly marvellous and celestial was Leonardo”: with these words Giorgio Vasari, a 16th century Italian art historian, described Leonardo, while writing his biography.
Leonardo da Vinci was a multi talented figure with a wide range of interests, he excelled in all areas of his studies, distinguishing him from other recognisable singularly- talented figures during his time (such as Raphael and Michelangelo). For example, Leonardo contributed to the study of anatomy by dissecting corpses to find out the actual functioning of the human body, in the field of physics he investigated the laws of waves and currents and the flight of birds. He was also a civil and military engineer involved in the construction of fortifications and canals.
"Leonardo da Vinci was the first artist to use value consistently across colors, achieving tonal unity in which a figure presents a single, swelling, homogeneously generated volume in contrast to the inevitably fragmented effects of color-modeling. Light, color and form are now related in a way that approximates, and describes, their scientific and naturalistic behavior" (webexhibits.org/colorart, 2015)
Leonardo was the first artist in Italy to use oil paints instead of egg tempera, he concocted his own recipe for oil paints. Leonardo introduced a new feature to art- he painted a broader range of luminance than he actually observed. Such skillful use of light and dark paints to define three dimensional shape became known today as "chiaroscuro", a style of shading that dominates tone (brightness) more than color.
Leonardo was the first artist in Italy to use oil paints instead of egg tempera, he concocted his own recipe for oil paints. Leonardo introduced a new feature to art- he painted a broader range of luminance than he actually observed. Such skillful use of light and dark paints to define three dimensional shape became known today as "chiaroscuro", a style of shading that dominates tone (brightness) more than color.
Leonardo da Vinci wrote in Italian using a version of shorthand that he invented himself. He wrote in "mirror writing" characters reversed, starting at the right side of the page and moving to the left. Only when he was writing something intended for other people did he write in the normal direction. His unique script has led to psychological studies on the benefits of using "mirror writing" including theories of:
Slowing thinking in order to tap into inner creativity. To encourage inner silence and stillness.
To increase levels of awareness and higher, finer concentration.
To ground oneself in the present moment, harness new, fresh thinking and ideas.
Increase the quality of thinking, and unlock rigid reasoning.
Slowing thinking in order to tap into inner creativity. To encourage inner silence and stillness.
To increase levels of awareness and higher, finer concentration.
To ground oneself in the present moment, harness new, fresh thinking and ideas.
Increase the quality of thinking, and unlock rigid reasoning.