Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (born::April 15, 1452 - died::May 2, 1519) was a painter, anatomist, architect, sculptor, engineer, and a scholar in the natural sciences, medicine, and philosophy. In his father's home, Leonardo had access to academic texts that were owned by his family and friends. He was exposed to Vinci's, Leonardo's father, ancient painting tradition, and when he was about 15 his father apprenticed him to the famous workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence. In Verrocchio's workshop Leonardo learned the painters craft of making brushes, preparing canvases, and grinding and mixing paints. Verrocchio also taught him to sculpt in stone, wood and clay, and how to cast metal objects in silver and gold. Leonardo demonstrated his vast talent even as an apprentice. He had many great contributions to science and even to art. One of them was the invention of a giant catapult. This helped out the military a lot, and gave them a huge advantage.

Another invention was a war machine that Da Vinci invented. The wheels of this horse-drawn chariot spin the scythes by using gearing. As Leonardo put it, the scythes were capable of doing harm to friends and enemies alike. He said, “I shall make covered chariots, that are safe and cannot be assaulted; cars which fear no great numbers when breaking through the ranks of the enemy and its artillery. Behind them, the infantrymen shall follow, without fearing injury or other impediments.” Which he did end up inventing. These inventions also helped out the military.

Leonardo Da Vinci also used science to greatly further art and make painting and statues much more realistic. An example of one of his great paintings is the Mona Lisa.

Some evidence of Leonardo Da Vinci’s belief in God is that Leonardo was more a scholar than a philosopher; nevertheless his naturalistic science implies a certain philosophy, which if it is neither the kind of paganism nor the materialism in which the Renaissance often resulted can not truly be called a Christian. Either through carefulness or through scorn of abstract ideas Leonardo seemed to have avoided declaring himself about this. Nevertheless it is easy to see that the idea of miracles is repugnant to his imagination. Leonardo admits or would logically admit only an immanent Providence, a God who keeps from intervention in the universe like the god of Lucretius or the Stoics. It is also certain, and he does not conceal it, that he did not like the monks. However, as an artist, Leonardo accommodated himself perfectly to the Christian tradition. His art, though not at all mystic, is in its forms certainly less pagan than that of Raphael or even Michelangelo.

Related References:

 * National Museum of Science and Technology
 * Global Gallery-Leonardo Da Vinci Pictures
 * Leonardo Da  Vinci-Catholic Encyclopedia