Leonardo da Vinci :: essays research papers

da Vinci da Vinci, perhaps the greatest man in history, invented thousands of thingsincluding the helicopter, tank and portable bridge. Leonardo was not only if an inventor,but a sculptor, an artist and an architect. He was innate(p) 1452 in the small town of Vinci,in Tuscany. His father was a wealthy notary and his mother a peasant woman. In themid 1460s the family moved to Florence hither he was given the best education Florencecould offer. He advanced quick socially and intellectually . He was very handsome anda attractive musician. About 1482 Leonardo entered the service of the duke of Milan. Due to a recommendationstating that he could build portable bridges and knew techniques in constructing canons,ships and catapults as well as other weapons. He served as principle engineer in thedukes military projects. In 1502 Leonardo entered the service of Cesare Borgia, duke ofRomagna. He served as Cesares chief architect and engineer. Leonardo supervised workon the fortresses of th e apostolical territories in central Italy. In 1506 Leonardo went to Milanagain at the mention of its French governor Charles dAmboise. For the next six yearshe divided his time between Milan and Florence. He still continued his applied scienceprojects and worked on a figure for a monument to a air force officer of the French forces inthe city. Although Leonardo produced a small number of paintings he was an influent artist. TheMona Lisa, his most famous work, is a great example of twain techniques sfumato andchiaroscuro of which he was one of the first great masters. Because none of Leonardossculptural projects were brought to completion, his approach to three dimensional art canonly be judged by his drawings. As a scientist he towered over his generation.