The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci - Essay ExampleThese characterizations of Leonardo that originated in Vasaris Lives held item significance for modern art. In the nineteenth-century atmosphere in which artists training was based on the emulation of masters, Leonardo offered an alternative to the traditions represented by Raphael and Michelangelo particularly because he united art with science. From birth, Vasaris Leonardo is set apart from other artists, divinely endowed with supernatural gifts of beauty, grace, and talent this last quality is evident in his command of all subjects he considered, made possible by his mind of regal boldness and magnanimous daring (Vasari 366). His wide-ranging intellect is a mixed blessing, a key to his success and to his undoing. Leonardo would without doubt have made great progress in learning and knowledge of the sciences, had he not been so varied and changeful, but the instability of his character caused him to undertake many things which having commenced he afterwards abandoned (Vasari 366-367). Leonardo made rapid progress in arithmetic, though he confounded his teacher by the perpetual doubts he started, and by the difficulty of the questions he proposed (Vasari 367). A gifted musician, he improvised verses and music for the lute. But, though dividing his care among pursuits so varied, he never abandoned his drawing, and employed himself much in works of relief, that being the occupation which attracted him more than any other (Vasari 368). His success in Verrocchios workshop was based on his intelligence, especially his knowledge of geometry, a necessary skill for a painter. Ultimately, Vasari notes, the artists abilities as a painter surpassed those of his master (Vasari 371). His talents were never restrict to painting, though as he had resolved to make painting his profession, he gave the larger portion of clip to drawing from nature (Vasari 368). Leonardo sketched architectural plans and intentional entire buildi ngs. He designed water-powered mills, machines, and engines, and was the first to suggest that, by transforming the river Arno, a canal could link Pisa with Florence (Vasari 368). Leonardo, frequently occupied with the construction of models and the preparation of designs for the removal or the perforation of mountains, also showed how to raise or draw great weights through levers, cranes, and screws (Vasari 369). He designed methods to clean and maintain ports and havens, and to obtain water from great depths. From speculations of this kind he never gave himself rest, recording them on the pages of his notebooks (Vasari 369). Not all of his projects had such immediately recognizable application, however he wasted not a little time intertwining cords like those he assembled to form the emblem of his academy (Vasari 369). Mental powers contributed to Leonardos social and artistic success. His memory also was always so ready and so efficient in the service of his intellect, that in di scourse he won all men by his reasonings, and confounded every antagonist, however powerful, by the rip of his arguments (Vasari 368). He was so charismatic that, with a model or a drawing, Leonardo could convince a listener of the impossible. With his scheme for raising the Florentine