Artists and their Role in Society
Artists all around the world use drawing to express themselves and their thoughts. As a result, some understand and also admire them and the values they serve. Painting, music, poetry, photography, sculpture, and dance are all types of art that inspire people in different ways in today's culture (Antony 12).
The Captivating Artists in History
Clearly, there have been many artists around the world whose work has captivated a wide range of people, including Michelangelo, Edgar Poe, and Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci, in particular, is by far the most captivating artist to date. Da Vinci's Monalisa painting is one piece of art that is the most controversial, yet intriguing piece of art due to the emotional aspect (smile) of human nature it presents.
Leonardo Da Vinci: A Multi-Talented Genius
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian who lived in Florence, Italy. He is considered a genius not only in the field of art but many other fields of philosophy, theology, and mathematics. His mind, as evident in his works such as Vitruvian man and Monaliza, was way beyond the time he lived in; from his paintings to his inventions (Antony 6).
The Techniques and Curiosity of Da Vinci
Da Vinci lived in the Renaissance period. He used different techniques in his paintings. In his collaboration with his mentor Verrocchio, he used oil paint while in the painting of the last supper; he used tempera over a ground of gesso making it look flaky ("Leonardo da Vinci: Facts and Biography" 1). Curiosity drove him but rarely finished his work.
The Mystery of Mona Lisa
Leonardo's greatest work that has been a mystery to many artists is the painting of Mona Lisa. He painted it from 1503-1505/1507 (Rita 1). The painting was a woman named Lisa Gioconda (Monalisa) who belonged to a wealthy family. The painting intrigues people because of the ambiguity of the facial expression. The eyes always seem to follow you anywhere you go, and her fading smile creates an air of mystery. He used a technique called sfumato which refers to Leonardo's smoke. It is shadowed at the edges of the eyes and mouth (Antony 3). He was obsessed with the painting, for about ten years he constantly ameliorated it. The painting of Mona Lisa has undergone a lot of research and study over the years. It is the most famous art piece in the world today. Studies in the painting have been done focusing on various aspects; the life of Lisa Gioconda, the technical part of the painting, and also some study on whether the painting sits behind another completed piece.
Leonardo Da Vinci: A Renaissance Man
In conclusion, Leonardo is an exceptional man; he was able to take part in various fields in life and stand out in them. No one has been able to take part in as many disciplines as he did, as he said: "One cannot have a smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself." He was a mathematician, an engineer, a botanist, an inventor, an anatomist, a painter, an architect and a philosopher.
Work Cited
Antony Mason, “Leonardo da Vinci book.” Gareth Stevens Pub.World Almanac Library Publication. 2004
Leonardo da Vinci: Facts and Biography- Live Science www.livescience.com/3935-leonardo-da-vinci.html
Sherry Rita. “Leonardo da Vinci, The Genius.” Theredheadwriter.com. 2009-2017
