One of Leonardo's most famous paintings was The Mona Lisa. Totally History explains how it is a half body commission for a women named Lisa Gherardini, who came from a well-known family in Tuscany, whose husband, Francesco Del Giocondo a wealthy silk merchant, asked Leonardo to paint it to celebrate their house being completed and the birth of their second son. The Mona Lisa is so famous because of Leonardo's ability to study the actual form of the human and painted The Mona Lisa more accurately than any other artist during that time. In addition, the technique of the oil painting on a cottonwood panel instead of a canvas that also contributes to its fame.
Totally History also explains another famous piece of Leonardo's, The Last Supper. It is located on the side wall of a dining hall at Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The painting represents the final meal Christ had with his disciples telling him he had betrayed them and would be leaving them soon and was later arrested and crucified.
Totally History explains how another piece of art, The Baptism of Christ which was completed along side his mentor Andrea del Verrochio. This was the artwork that first showed Leonardo's true talent when he created a new technique of oil painting. The painting represents St. John who was the Baptist during the baptism of Jesus Christ. There are two angels on the left side holding Jesus's clothes, a halo with a cruciform on top of Jesus's head and another halo on St. John's head. God's arms are extended out above Jesus's head with golden rays and a dove with its wings spread out.
Leonardo was also an amazing draftsman. Totally History also talks about one of Leonardo's most famous sketches, The Vitruvian Man. Leonardo was inspired by the work of a famous Roman architect Vitruvius. His knowledge of geometry and anatomy is what inspired Leonardo to apply geometric principles to his artwork. The Vitruvian Man is composed of two male figures drawn inside a circle and a square to show the geometric proportions of the human body. This sketch is used in science, math and anatomy classes to this day.
|