Leonardo da Vinci 1452 1519 n Born in
Leonardo da Vinci 1452 - 1519
n Born in Vinci, Tuscany, Italy (15 th Apr. 1452)
Childhood n n n Mother – Catarina father – Ser Piero, a public notary Went to school in Vinci, studied geometry and Latin He lived there until he was 14 Then moved to Florence where he began an apprenticeship in the workshop of Verrocchio.
Andrea del Verrocchio n n n started an apprenticeship in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio 1466 (sculptor, painter, goldsmith, bronze caster and more) the mixing of colors and then he painted simple parts of paintings, taught himself to paint in oils at this time In June 1472 - listed in the red book of painters from Florence, end of apprenticeship.
First Work n n Leonardo da Vinci’s first known and dated work (5 th of August 1473) "the perspective of disappearance".
n "Baptism of Christ", 14721475, assisted his master Verrocchio
n The Benois Madonna, 1478
n n n St. Jermoe, 1481 Never finished Now in the Vatican
n n n Milan (1482 -1499) “The Last Supper” Many unfinished works
n n “The virgin of the Rocks” 1483 - 86
n “Mona Lisa” (1503 -1507) n Sfumato (smoky effect)
Leonardo the Scientist n n Studied many topics such as anatomy, zoology, botany, geology, optics, aerodynamics and hydrodynamics among others He was fascinated by the study of physiognomy, the “science” of evaluating a person’s character by his or her facial features
Leonardo the Artist n n The Last Supper n n The Virgin of the Rocks Leonardo’s desire to paint things realistically was bold and fresh, and eventually became the standard for painters who followed in the 16 th century Went beyond his teaching by making a scientific study of light and shadow in nature Objects were not comprised of outlines, but were actually 3 -D bodies defined by light and shadow Known as chiaroscuro, this technique gave his paintings the soft, lifelike quality that made older paintings look “cartoony” and flat
Leonardo the Inventor n n n Leonardo’s first idea for a catapult Adapted drawing skills to the more lucrative fields of architecture, military engineering, canal building and weapons design Leonardo wanted to create "new machines" for a "new world“ Based on the gear, he came up with loads of different ideas, including the bicycle, a helicopter, an “auto-mobile”, and many military weapons
Right to Left n n n Leonardo wrote in Italian using a special kind of shorthand that he invented himself He usually used “mirror writing, ” 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 Leonardo’s Signature in a notebook
Mystery of the Mona Lisa n n n He recorded in his notebooks the records of model sittings; but records of the Mona Lisa model sitting are nowhere to be found Theories are that Leonardo painted himself, and this theory is supported by analyzing the facial features of Leonardo’s face and that of the famous painting If the features of the face were placed on top of each other, and flipped, they would align perfectly
Leonardo’s Notebooks n Leonardo's notebooks may have started out as just a way for him to improve the quality of his paintings. ¡ ¡ ¡ He studied anatomy to portray the human body accurately. He studied plants and rocks to make them authentic for his paintings. Somewhere along the line, however, the books became more than that. They became a record of his life-long fascination with nature and his genius for invention.
Leonardo’s Notebooks Presently there are ten known codices containing Leonardo's sketches and notes. n ¡ ¡ ¡ Codex Atlanticus - This notebook concerns mathematics, geometry, astronomy, botany, zoology and the military arts. It is held by the Biblioteca Ambrosianain in Milan, Italy. Codex Arundel - This book resides in the British Library in London and is one of the ones created by the cutting and pasting of pages from other works. Most of the material deals with the study of geometry, weights and architecture. Codices of the Institute of France - These are twelve documents (referred to as A-M) of varying sizes that cover a variety of areas including hydraulics, military art, optics, geometry and bird flight. One of Leonardo's most well known-designs, a primitive helicopter, is included in manuscript B.
Leonardo’s Notebooks n n Codex Trivulzianus - There are only 55 pages in this document currently held in Milan. The subjects of this collection include religion, architecture and literature. Codex "On the Flight of Birds" - This short work of only 17 pages is a very careful study Leonardo did in 1505 on the mechanics of flight and the movement of air. Codex Ashburnham - This is actually composed of two documents held by the Institute of France. It primarily consists of pictorial studies. Codex Forster - These are three different documents held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. They are composed of studies about geometry, weights and hydraulic machines.
Leonardo’s Notebooks n n n Codex Leicester - This manuscript was in the news when it was purchased by Bill Gates in 1995 for $30. 8 million. It contains 64 pages mostly dedicated to Leonardo's theories on astronomy, the properties of water, rocks and fossils, air and celestial light. Windsor Royal Documents - These pages are part of the royal collection at Windsor Castle. The subjects include anatomy and geography, horse studies, drawings, caricatures and a series of maps. The Madrid Codices - These manuscripts were found in the archives of the National Library of Madrid. There are two volumes bound in red morocco leather and contain 197 pages on geometry and mechanics.
Seven Principles 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Curiosità Dimonstrazione Sensazione Sfumato Arte/Scienza Corporalita Connessione
1. Curiosità n An insatiably curious approach to life and unrelenting quest for continuous learning.
2. Dimonstrazione n A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and willingness to learn from mistake.
3. Sensazione n A continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as enlivened experience.
4. Sfumato n n literally “Going up in Smoke” A willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox, and uncertainty.
5. Arte/Scienza n A development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination. “Whole brain” thinking.
6. Corporalita n The cultivation of grace, ambidexterity, fitness, and poise.
7. Connessione n The recognition of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena, system thinking.
1. Curiosità
Curiosità n An insatiably curious approach to life and unrelenting quest for continuous learning.
Curiosità: Checklist q q q q q I keep a notebook to record questions and ideas I take time for reflection I am always learning something new I seek alternatives when facing an important decisions I love to read My friends describe me as open-minded When I hear a new word I look it up I am learning a new language I love learning
Curiosità n Leonardo keep notebooks with him all the time, and wrote at least 12, 000 pages; ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Jokes and fables Thoughts of scholars he admired Personal financial records Letters Reflections on domestic problems Philosophical musings Plans for inventions Ideas on anatomy, geology, flight, water, and painting
Curiosità n You too can keep a notebook; ¡ ¡ Keep it with you everywhere Record n n n ¡ ¡ your questions Observations Insights Jokes Dreams Musings Be free-flowing, non-judgemental, unfinished Add newspaper articles and internet materials
Curiosità n A Hundred Questions ¡ ¡ Make a list of 100 questions that are important to you Any kind of question you like n ¡ ¡ “How can I save more money? ”, “How can I have more fun? ”, “What is the meaning of life? ” “How can I best serve my destiny? ” Do it all in one sitting Don’t worry about spelling and grammar, or repeating the same question in different words When finished, read the list, and highlight themes that emerge Are most questions about Work? Fun? Money? Life?
Curiosità n Top Ten Questions ¡ Review the questions and select the top ten
Curiosità Ten Power Questions n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. When am I most naturally myself? What people, and activities allow me to feel like myself? What one thing could I stop doing, start doing, or do differently, starting today, that would improve the quality of my life? What is my greatest talent? How can I get paid for what I love? Who are my most inspiring role models? How can I best be of service to others? What is my deepest heart’s desire? How am I perceived by my best friend, my worst enemy, my boss, my friends, my family, etc. ? What are the blessings of my life? What legacy would I like to leave?
Curiosità n Ten questions about a topic ¡ Pick a topic that interests you, or Leonardo n n n ¡ Flight Flowing water The human body Reflected light Knots Think of ten questions
Curiosità n E. g. , how does a bird fly? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Why does it have two wings? Why does it have feathers? How does it “take off”? How does it slow down? How does it accelerate? How high can it fly? When does it sleep? How good is its eyesight? What does it eat? What does it drink?
Curiosità n Stream of Consciousness Exercise ¡ ¡ ¡ Pick a question from your notebook Find a quiet spot, spend ten minutes writing answers to the question Keep the pen moving, don’t lift it up to correct spellings and grammar Just write continuously Don’t worry about writing nonsense Highlight words, phrases and themes
Curiosità n Stream of Consciousness Exercise ¡ ¡ Pick a question Write down 10 questions about it
Curiosità n Realise your Ideal Hobby ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ How will I benefit from this pursuit? What are my goals? What resources will I need? Where can I find a good teacher? How much time will I devote to it? What obstacles must I overcome? How can I make money from my hobby?
Curiosità n Learn a new language ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Be willing to make mistakes Repeat words over and over Do an “immersion course” Find movies, songs, etc. with subtitles - use the web Learn phrases about topics that interest you Put translation Post-It notes on household objects Pretend to be a native, adopt the expression and gestures of a native Have fun!
Curiosità n Build a Lexicon ¡ Codex Trivulzianus is full of them, define words, new vocabulary, foreign terms, neogolisms. n n n ¡ Arduous – difficult, painful Alpine – of the region of the Alps Archimandrite – a leader of a group A large vocabulary is a powerful ally
Codex Trivulzianus n n This notebook originally contained 62 sheets, but today only 55 remain. It documents Leonardo's attempts to improve his modest literary education, through long lists of learned words copied from authoritative lexical and grammatical sources. The manuscript also contains studies of military and religious architecture.
2. Dimonstrazione
Dimonstrazione n A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence, and willingness to learn from mistake.
Dimonstrazione: Checklist q q q q q I am willing to acknowledge my mistakes I learn from my mistakes I question “conventional wisdom” I am influenced by celebrity endorsements I can articulate my fundamental beliefs I can change my beliefs based on experience I persevere in the face of obstacles I view adversity as an opportunity for growth I am sometimes susceptible to superstition
Dimonstrazione n Examine your experience ¡ ¡ ¡ Think of 5 -7 experiences in your life that have been very influential Write a sentence about what you learned from each of those experiences Which is the single most influential? How has this coloured you attitudes? Can you rethink conclusions drawn from this experience?
Dimonstrazione n We have a range of beliefs ¡ ¡ ¡ Human nature Ethics Politics Ethnic groups Scientific truth Religion Medicine Life Art Marriage History
Dimonstrazione n How would they be different if you; ¡ ¡ ¡ Lived in a different country Came from another religious background Were twenty years older Were twenty years younger Were a member of the opposite gender
Dimonstrazione n Fight commercial tricks; ¡ ¡ ¡ Get a magazine Look at the advertisements What tactics are being used in the ads? n n n Relationship-related Coolness Hero fantasies Repetition Endorsements
Dimonstrazione n n List the three best ads you have seen What makes them so good? Consider purchases you have undertaken in the last year that were influenced by ads Try a “stream of consciousness exercise on the topic “The role of advertising in the formation of my values and self-image”
Dimonstrazione n Identify Anti-role models ¡ Look for three people who regularly make mistakes that you think are obvious What can you learn from their mistakes? ¡ They may do positive things also ¡ n What can you learn there?
Dimonstrazione n Explore attitudes to mistakes ¡ ¡ ¡ What did you learn from school about making mistakes? What did your parents teach you about making mistakes? What is the biggest mistake you have ever made? What mistakes do you repeat? What role does fear of making mistakes play in your life, your work, at home? Are you more likely to make mistakes of commission, or omission?
3. Sensazione
Sensazione n A continual refinement of the senses, especially sight, as enlivened experience.
Sensazione n Da Vinci’s motto: n “Saper vedere” = knowing how to see
Sensazione n n n What is the most beautiful thing that you have ever seen? The sweetest sound that you have ever heard? The most tender touch? Imagine a delicious taste And a wonderful aroma
Sensazione: Visual n Find out the exact time of sunset/sunrise n Find a quite spot outdoors n Relax, enjoy it, n Note down details in your notebook
Sensazione: Visual n Study the lives of your favourite artists ¡ ¡ Make a list of your top ten painters Set a period of time (a month, 6 weeks, etc. ) to study their life and their work Hang reproductions in your house Write about them in your notebook
Sensazione: Visual n n n Visualization is a technique that Leonardo used a great deal in his work, and is now used by top athletes and business executives. It is simply a matter of imagining (practicing) a performance before you do it, to allow your brain to match the imagination.
Sensazione: Visual n n Visualization Practice visualization ¡ ¡ In the morning upon waking At night as you are about to sleep When travelling as a passenger Whenever you are relaxed
Sensazione: Visual n Visualization using Art n Find a quiet place and study a particular work of art.
Experience it visually
imagine what the sounds and smells would have been
What would the food have tasted like ?
. . . and your own questions
Sensazione: Visual n n n n Draw Draw
Sensazione: Visual n Learn how to draw ¡ ¡ ¡ Identify approaches Get good pencils and paper Take lessons or get a book Doodle Scribble Etc.
Sensazione: Listening n Listen for silences ¡ ¡ ¡ n n In conversation In background noise In music When do the silences occur? How to they sound?
Sensazione: Listening n n Listen to music you love Listen to different styles of music Listen to patterns in music
Sensazione: Listening n Study the lives of your favourite musicians ¡ ¡ Make a list of your top ten musicians Set a period of time (a month, 6 weeks) to study their life and their work Listen to the work – major and minor Write about them in your notebook
Sensazione: Smell n n n Focus on smell for a day Observe all the typical smells you encounter on a day-to-day basis. Discuss them in your notebook
Sensazione: Smell n Locate a range of objects that create a range of smells; ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ n Old tee shirts A rose Seaweed Wood Orange Soil Cigars Etc. Note down your reaction to each of them in your notebook
Sensazione: Smell n Make your own perfume; ¡ ¡ n Go to a fragrance shop Locate smells that you like Mix them together Is the result better or worse ? ? Discuss in your notebook
Sensazione: Taste n Compare different tastes ¡ ¡ n Different honeys Different chocolates Different grapes Different ice creams Note differences in your notebook
Sensazione: Touch n Blindfold touch ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ n Rubber ball Silk Ceramic Velcro Leaf Bowl of ice Velvet Describe in terms of textures, weight, temperature, and other sensations.
Sensazione: Synthesia n Draw music n Make sounds of colour n Imagine if Mozart were a painter or Michelango a composer ¡ ¡ who would they be most like? What sort of art would they create?
Sensazione: Maestro’s Room n Create your own studio ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Find a room, put a sign on the door Get good lighting – UV-radiation full-spectrum, sun lamps Install a good stereo system Hang art on the walls, add plants Comfortable furniture – hammock, bean bags Feng Shui it up! Air – (de)humidifer, heater/fan, aromas.
END OF PART I
- Slides: 86
