Leonardo da Vinci by Kathleen Krull

 The biography series Giants of Science for middle grade fascinates with the story of Leonardo da Vinci who was an Italian polymath during the High Renaissance.  

Leonardo da Vinci (1734-1818) was born in Vinci, in Tuscany, Italy. He was an illegitimate child, raised by grandparents. His uncle Francesco farmed family’s land. He liked experimenting with different crops. Leonardo spent hours helping his uncle, and that probably influences his curious mind.

Leonardo from childhood was very observant, observing everything around him, making notes and drawings. He always carried a pen and paper with him so no thought would escape him. He supposedly developed this habit already during his childhood.

He received minimal schooling and because of his illegitimacy, he wasn’t allowed to attend university. He pretty much had two options: either to join the army or to take up a trade.

His father used his connections to get him apprenticed as a studio boy to Andrea del Verrocchio, the leading Florentine painter and sculptor of his day. Leonardo was twelve or thirteen at the time. He started with sweeping the floors, running errands, and cleaning paintbrushes. Meanwhile, he continued to practice his drawing.

It was a time when paintings were being developed from appearing flat to giving the illusion of depth. Like Leonardo’s uncle, Verrocchio also liked experimenting and innovating. He encouraged his shop to break new ground in the arts.

Leonardo was a quick learner and his talent was noticed. Verrocchio was delegating more work to him.

Leonardo spent time at hospitals, furthering his study of anatomy.

By twenty, he became an official member of the Florentine painters’ guild, but he remained with his teacher for another 12-13 years, perfecting his skills.

Leonardo was a man of many talents, but he wasn’t good at finishing tasks. He quitted many commissions. He left behind many sketches and plans and less finished work.

It could have been that with so many talents and passions focusing on one idea for an extended period was becoming disengaging for him.

He was always busy. If not creating, then reading and educating himself.

Leonardo became obsessed with flying. Thus, he studied the motion of bird’s wings.

He was fascinated with Greek philosophers, but he never followed blindly. He always questioned and made his own observations.

He also was solving practical problems, one of them was designing warfare weapons as the city – states of Italy were at war much of the time.

Above all, Leonardo wanted to be original. He was much more interested in inventing and designing. And for that he needed a patron.

Lorenzo de Medici – the greatest patron of art – didn’t pick Leonardo. Thus, it was time for him to leave Florence.

At thirty, he moved to Milan – the city known for advances in science and learning. And that’s what interested him the most. He entered the service of Duke Ludovico Sforza, Milan’s ruler, and served him for years as principal military engineer and also as an architect.

When another epidemic of Black Death struck Milan, Leonardo designed an ideal city, to make it clean and healthy as he connected the filthy conditions with the cause of plagues. But the design was never used.

During his time in Milan, he painted The Last Super.

Past his forties, he taught himself Latin, so he could read books that weren’t translated into Italian.

In 1499, when French invaded Milan and his patron was overthrown, at forty-seven, he began to roam with his assistant Salai.

From 1513-1516, he lived in Rome with the pope for a patron.

In 1517, Leonardo travelled to France as King Francis I became his patron.

This biography demonstrates a man who didn’t have a formal education and yet became a polymath thanks to his curiosity. What exemplifies him is his curious mind which led him to asking many questions about everything, including how things worked and what people imposed with their believes. He was open-minded and never relied on long-standing theories.  

This biography for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, for most part with simple sentences.

Source: Puffin Books, 2008

 

 

 

·         TRENDING INSPIRATION: “Learning never exhausts the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci (He never stopped learning. Fascination in a subject led him to study it in order to understand it).

 

 

Traits:

·         From childhood, he was very observant, observing everything around him, making notes and drawings.

·         As a boy, he was apprenticed to clean the art studio, but meanwhile continued on improving his drawings.

·         He spent time at hospitals to further his study of anatomy, so his drawings would look natural.

·         Even when he was at age to strike on his own, he remained with his teacher to improve his skills.

·         He was a man of many talents, but he wasn’t good at finishing tasks.

·         He was always busy. If not creating, then reading and educating himself.

·         When he became obsessed with flying, he studied the motion of bird’s wings.

·         Past his forties, he taught himself Latin, so he could read books that weren’t translated into Italian.

 

 

 

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, and those who do not see.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“The noblest pleasure if the joy of understanding.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“Wisdom is the daughter of experience.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation…even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“Nature is the source of all true knowledge.” – Leonardo da Vinci

 

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:  

 Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest intellects in the history of mankind, very productive, always having a pen and a piece of paper with him to write down whatever came to him. He wanted to make sure that no thought escaped him. Yet, he understood balance very well as he said:

“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgement will be surer; since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgement.”

Dr. Wayne Dyer explores the subject of Balance in his book “Wisdom of the Ages,” where he further explains the words of da Vinci: “The great Renaissance master is telling us to let go, relax, don’t try so hard, remove the struggle and allow our natural divine guidance to assist us.” One of the ways is to meditate before undertaking any pursuit. Meditation creates space or gap in our mind, allowing ideas or answers come to us. Thus, becoming more productive in less time.