Leonardo Da Vinci’s Birthday – April 15th

Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most renowned artists of all time. His works have been the subject of political discussion, academic research, social policy making and even the title of movies in the entertainment industry. Leonardo Da Vinci is well known and recognized for his works in history and in the entire world. Throughout history Leonardo has been recognized as the “renaissance evolutionist”, the man who brought a new outlook to the art world, not only through his paintings but also sculptures and inventions.

Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes! ~Da Vinci

There have been many sides to Leonardo that have come up all through the times.
Perhaps the most important function that Da Vinci has played in history and even up to today is to inspire young artists. Before Leonardo Da Vinci came into the picture, painters and artists were confined by their religion, the ruling class and the social environment with regard to the subject of their paintings and works of art. Over history, Leonardo has inspired the art world to produce work not limited by the culture and beliefs of the artist. Art students have over time been inspired by what seems to be endless codes reproduced in the Leonardo’s work. For this reason, art is much more lively and interesting even for the novices.

Secondly, Leonardo’s work is believed to be the source of cryptic messages preserved through time. It seems that the artist was interested in conspiracies and mysteries as well as using his art as a medium to transport and preserve what he thought were interesting and fascinating. For example in recent time Leonardo’s “last supper” has come under much speculation since the movie “Da Vinci code” was released. Scientists, researchers and fellow artist have often tried to find and decode many of the works present by this renowned artist. Whether his work is actually authentic with regard to the messages decoded, is still a question being debated.

Leonardo Da Vinci was not only an artist and inventor, he was also a political activist who fought for the freedom of expression using his talent. Many of his paintings and sculptors, some which have been rumored to have disappeared through time passed a message to the ruling class. His earnings from the art and his work often went to support one revolution or another.

Many of Leonardo’s works are still sketches and skeletons used by students to study the precision and methodology of producing complete and authentic paintings. Professors and art lovers have often used incomplete works and sketches, such as “The Adoration of Magi” and “The Virgin on the rocks”, to teach and show the preciseness applied in panting a complete work of art.

In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time. ~Da Vinci

To many students and art lovers, Leonardo Da Vinci is still considered an inspiration and a force to be reckoned with years and decades after his death. His journals continue to give us insight into the history, and time through which he lived. In addition, they explain the philosophy through which this great artist lived by. To some Leonardo Da Vinci is a hero, a force of change, a legend and still to others he continues to remain a mystery.

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things. ~Da Vinci

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