It has been long since anything is written about
past era artists like Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo and others. They all have
classic contribution in art. In the age when one can write in volumes about
contemporary artist, it may seem queer to some, the mention of past era
artists. But I need to. The reason is important and to be considered from
social point of view. We all know
artists are the mirrors of the society. History has also witnessed their
valuable contribution. One such artists who has contributed to society in the
fullest extent is Leonardo da Vinci. His contribution was not only restricted
to his country but to the whole world. The following is a brief introduction to
his socially viable work and also how his share as an inventor, civil engineer,
military engineer, astronomer, geologist, anatomist and partly an astronaut a
researcher, scientist and engineer and many more practical aspects has resulted
in assisting his art and how we have with us the treasure of his illustrated
pages with detailed observations and outlines of inventions. He was marvellous
in every field that is mentioned here. It is interesting that his art bloomed
due the scientific instincts and his scientific nature bud out of art. So, we
can conclude that a true artist also must have an instinct of scientist.
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| (Image :www.codeavengers.com) |
Leonardo da Vinci had been the greatest experimental
scientist of his age and an acknowledged artist. His ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘Last
Supper’ are classic paintings one with mystery and awesome creativity and other
mesmerizing too.
Since his school days he was sharp in solving
mathematical problems and also showed notable talent in paintings. When he was
sixteen years old he worked as an apprentice of artist Andrea del Verrocchio.
In his guidance, Leonardo learned to work with wood, marble and metal. Andrea
then insisted that Leonardo studied Latin and Greek classics, philosophy,
mathematics and anatomy.
As I write this article, I really wonder how many
artists take efforts to go out of the way to learn something different from
what they intend to paint or install.Hardly a few do this, and only those who
know that referring to subjects other than art, is only the way to be a true
artist. An artists should have knowledge of various fields.
Reading recommended books on art and improvising
one’s own skill is the sign of academic excellence and not of a true artistic
passion.Leonardo’s mentor, Andrea wanted Leonardo to become a true artist and
knew that study and knowledge of various fields was necessary for it. Sadly,
now art schools have become production houses of artists with degrees and very
little understanding of other fields. Newly studying and budding artists are in
hurry to have exhibition of their artworks and intend to be famous- famous and
likeablelike instant foods! Following the guidance of Andrea, Leonardo
completed his apprenticeship at the age of twenty six and he was admitted in
Artists’ Guild, where one could obtain their own patrons. This was a step
towards progress. He invented a novel musical instrument- a lute in the shape
of a horse’s head in which teeth served to select the tones- this captured the
attention of Duke Ludovico Sforza, the then ruler of Milan. This opened the
doors for Leonardo to try and experiment his conceived projects. Art came
closer to politics as he got the patron.
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| Image wikipedia (A page showing Leonardo's study of a foetus in the womb (c. 1510) Royal Library,) |
That was the age when kingdoms of Italy frequently
strived with each other. The artist Leonardo da Vinci devoted his art for
military equipment design. Almost at the same time was suffering from plague,
which is a disease spread by rat bite, he was aware of it and knew to prevent
it sewers needed modification. So he worked on his projects, though they were
not approved. But here acceptance or rejection is not an issue, his social
conscience ids admirable. He was socially aware artist.
His exceptional anatomical drawings are still
considered the perfect anatomical drawings. He developed them while in Milan,
with the help of famous doctors and also by attending dissections himself to
observe the internal make of human body. Obviously, his drawings show a
profound understanding of the anatomical structure of a man. His skull drawings
showed for the first time, the openings in the forehead and in jaws. He
perfectly presented the position of unborn child in the womb of mother. His
drawings of heart, the chambers, and the valves presents his doctor’s vision.
When the Duke Ludovico Sforzawas captured by the
King of France, Leonardo lost his patron, so he went to Venice and offered his
military inventions. He devised a diving suit and a submarine. He was mindful not to note or illustrate the
designs of these inventions because he was afraid that evil nature of man would
use it to murder men at the bottom of the sea. Oh, how clearly it reminds us of
scientist Albert Einstein, who regretted his atomic research which proved fatal
to mankind!
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| ( Albert Einstein ) Image wikipedia |
Leonardo also applied his knowledge to be a cartographer
for Cesar Borgia. As Borgia wanted to conquer Italy, Leonardo was engaged in
making maps;Leonardo himself didthe survey and measurements. For travelling
long distances and measuring the area, he invented an important tool called
odometer, the device that notes how long automobile hastravelled, by keeping
records of revolution of wheels. This helped him in making maps. Interestingly,
even modern automobiles have odometer.
Leonardo is also instrumental in inventing machine
gun with many barrels mounted on triangular support. His military tank consisted
of a mobile enclosure with breech-loaded cannons. The tank was manually
operated, as it was invented before any mechanical power other than wind or water
power was invented. A double-hull ship is also an excellent example of his
artistic and scientific brain. If the outer hull was gun- fired by enemy, the
ship still remained afloat.
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| (A design for a flying machine, (c. 1488) Institut de France, Paris)Image wikipedia |
His other notable inventions include anemometer, the
device used to measure wind.
Leonardo invented mechanisms which are refined and
used even today. For example, machine tool industries have file-cutting and
screw-cutting machines equal to those designed by Leonardo da Vinci. All the
artists working in metal please note the Father of this invention!
Leonardo had special interest in aspects of water
that inspired him to design a pump that used the power of stream to raise
water. He studied shape of fish which helped him to design ship. His botanical
love is presented in notes and drawing forms which include heliotropism, rings
of trees related to age of the tree. Flowers of varied types were drawn and he
understood how the male and female plant life exists.
In his teenage, he made observation of birds’
inflight by releasing some swallows from cage. He noted their way through air,
now flying, now soaring. The sketches are valuable from artistic angle too. He
was confident that the same principles of flight would hold true for men. It
was impossible for anyone in that age to think that a man could fly. But Leonardo
da Vinci was certain that we could. He
experimented with this thought in1940 and designed a flying machine (though it
never worked out) with flap of huge wings. Then he tried his hand at making
helicopter also linen-covered wooden frame in pyramid form.
Invention is one of the greatest art. Leonardo’s
unbounded extent of thinking, feeling and creating gave birth to his excellent
creations in paintings, scientific studies and inventions.Leonardo always practiced noting his observations in
his own style- the mirror image, to maintain secrecy. Many of his sketches have
been made into working models. These devices are occasionally exhibited.
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| The Last Supper (1498)—Convent of Sta. Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy(Image wikipedia) |
An artist needn’t only follow philosophical course.
True knowledge comes from experience and meticulous observation of things
around. It is the skilful understanding of how every element in nature works in
unison and in individual space. Nature has all the examples of what human can
think and get inspired by.
Leonardo da Vinci should be an inspiration for all
the true artists and if possible instead of making paintings and installation
projecting reality, practical contribution would be welcomed by all. If artists
make use of resources around for the cause and benefit of the society it will
be enticing from social benefit point of view.
Just before I stop detailing about Leonardo da
Vinci’s contribution in other fields than in art, I would like to mention the
clock invented by him. It was he who first developed a clock that had hours and
seconds hands.
The time ticks and it can be heard clear in silent
zone, making the thoughtful brains to come up with something novel, fruitful
and evergreen, just like Leonardo da Vince.
Content taken from reference materials too.
(2016 - No copyright claim of any image by Writer or Artblogazine.com)
send feedback to JK pankjajk@gmail.com
By Pankaja JK.
