Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
(1452–1519)
1
The invading French armies destroyed the original clay model in 1498.
2
It is currently under repair; moisture and the passage of time have damaged the image.
The paining highlights the tension in the room following the announcement.
Christ sits calmly, ignoring the reactions of his followers.
Leonardo left Milan after France invaded Milan in 1499. In
1502, Leonardo entered the service of the infamous Duke of
Romagna, Cesare Borgia. He now undertook a variety of military
engineering projects. The Duke was described in Il Principe or The
Prince, a book by Niccolo Machiavelli about a despotic ruler who
was successful because he was utterly ruthless and pragmatic.
The painting called the Mona Lisa or La Gioconda is probably
his best known masterpiece. The painting was among the first
portraits to depict the subject in front of an imaginary landscape.
Leonardo began it in 1503, worked on it off and on, and finally
finished it in 1519, shortly before he died. It is painted on a poplar
wood panel. The painting (it is only 21” x 30”) hangs in the
Louvre. The nameplate under it reads: Portrait of Lisa Gherardini,
wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The painting was commissioned by Francesco
Gioconda for their new home and to celebrate the birth of their
second son, Andrea.
The picture is nowadays kept in a bulletproof glass case.
The humidity and the temperature inside the case are carefully
maintained.
Leonardo had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He was
always in search of perfection. He spent hours in morgues
dissecting dead bodies to study how muscles, tendons and
bones meshed together. That is why he could produce such
superb anatomical drawings. His Vitruvian Man is one of the
best known drawings in the world.
He also made many anatomical sketches of animals
including cows, monkeys, bears, birds, frogs, etc. His work as
an engineer includes hydraulic pump, mortar shells, steam
cannon and musical instruments. All his notes are in his
‘mirror’ handwriting; it looks as if we are seeing it in a mirror!
Leonardo died in 1519 at Clos Lucé, in France, unrivalled by any man except
his contemporary, Michelangelo. It is doubtful whether a genius as great as
Leonardo da Vinci will ever be born again.
© Subroto Mukerji