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Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed ying machine. Wikimedia Commons Synopsis: Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452, in Italy, during the time of the Italian Renaissance. It was a time when art and science ourished. Da Vinci was the denition of a “Renaissance man.” He studied the laws of science and nature, which aected his work as a painter, sculptor, architect, inventor and military engineer. His ideas have inuenced countless artists. Humble Beginnings Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, outside the village of Anchiano in present-day Italy. At the age of 5, he moved to his father’s family estate in nearby Vinci, the town from which the surname associated with Leonardo derives. There he lived with his uncle and grandparents. He received little formal education. Around the age of 14, da Vinci began an apprenticeship with the artist Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. He learned a wide range of skills, from metalworking to sculpture. At the age of 20, da Vinci established his own workshop. By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staon 07.22.16 Word Count 886 Level 1000L This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1

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Page 1: Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed flying machine. Wikimedia

Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo daVinci

A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed flying machine. Wikimedia Commons

Synopsis: Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452, in Italy, during the time of the ItalianRenaissance. It was a time when art and science flourished. Da Vinci was the definition of a“Renaissance man.” He studied the laws of science and nature, which affected his work as apainter, sculptor, architect, inventor and military engineer. His ideas have influenced countlessartists.

Humble Beginnings

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, outside the village of Anchiano in present-dayItaly. At the age of 5, he moved to his father’s family estate in nearby Vinci, the town fromwhich the surname associated with Leonardo derives. There he lived with his uncle andgrandparents.

He received little formal education. Around the age of 14, da Vinci began an apprenticeshipwith the artist Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. He learned a wide range of skills, frommetalworking to sculpture. At the age of 20, da Vinci established his own workshop.

By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on 07.22.16 Word Count 886 Level 1000L

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1

Page 2: Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed flying machine. Wikimedia

“Renaissance Man” Emerges In Milan

After leaving Verrocchio’s studio, da Vinci received his first independent commission to makean artwork in 1478. Three years later, the monks of the San Donato a Scopeto church inFlorence tasked him with painting “Adoration of the Magi.” The young artist would abandonboth commissions without ever completing them.

In 1482, Florentine ruler Lorenzo de' Medici commissioned da Vinci to create a silver lyre (aharp-like instrument) and bring it as a peace gesture to Ludovico Sforza, who ruled Milan.After doing so, da Vinci asked Sforza for a job. He sent Sforza a letter touting his skills as amilitary engineer. In it, he sketched war machines such as a chariot with blades mounted onthe sides, an armored tank propelled by a crank and even an enormous crossbow. The letterworked. Sforza brought da Vinci to Milan.

Like many leaders of Renaissance thought, da Vinci saw science and art as intertwined. Tomore accurately sculpt and paint people, da Vinci began to examine human and animal bodiesduring the 1480s. His drawings of organs, muscles and other structures are some of the firstever.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2

Page 3: Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed flying machine. Wikimedia

In addition, da Vinci studied botany, geology, zoology, hydraulics, aeronautics and physics. Hefilled dozens of notebooks with illustrations and scientific observations. Some of his sketchesappeared to predict the future. He made drawings of machines resembling bicycles,helicopters and a flying machine based on the wings of a bat.

"The Last Supper" And Other Works

Da Vinci was commissioned to work on numerous projects during his time in Milan. Around1495, Ludovico commissioned da Vinci to paint “The Last Supper” in the monastery of Milan’sSanta Maria delle Grazie. It took approximately three years to complete.

Among other projects, the Duke of Milan tasked da Vinci with sculpting a 16-foot-tall bronzestatue of his father. With the help of students in his workshop, da Vinci worked on the projecton and off for more than a dozen years. He sculpted a life-size clay model of the statue, but theproject was put on hold when war with France caused a bronze shortage. French forcesoverran Milan in 1499 and shot the clay model to pieces. Da Vinci fled the city.

Return To Florence And “Mona Lisa”

After brief stays in Mantua and Venice, da Vinci returned to Florence. In 1502 and 1503, hebriefly worked as a military engineer for Cesare Borgia, commander of the pope's army. Hetraveled outside of Florence to work on military construction projects and maps.

Upon his return to Florence in 1503, da Vinci started work on another mural, “Battle ofAnghiari.” It was to be twice as large as “The Last Supper.” However, he abandoned theproject after two years.

At the same time he began the “Battle of Anghiari,” da Vinci started working in 1503 on whatwould become his most well-known painting, the “Mona Lisa.” For da Vinci, the "Mona Lisa"was forever a work in progress. Today, it hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3

Page 4: Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed flying machine. Wikimedia

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4

Page 5: Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed flying machine. Wikimedia

Final Years

Leonardo returned to Milan in 1506 to work for the same French rulers who had overtaken thecity seven years earlier. Among the students who joined his studio was Francesco Melzi. Hewould become da Vinci’s closest companion for the rest of his life. Da Vinci did little painting inMilan, however, and focused on his scientific studies.

Da Vinci left the city and moved to Rome in 1513 along with his long-time assistant Salai,Melzi and two other assistants. Giuliano de’ Medici, son of his former patron, gave da Vinci amonthly allowance and a home inside the Vatican. But he also gave da Vinci little work. DaVinci devoted most of his time in Rome to math and science.

In 1515, France’s King Francis I offered da Vinci the title “Premier Painter and Engineer andArchitect to the King.” Along with Melzi, he departed for France, never to return. He continuedwork on his scientific studies until his death at the age of 67 on May 2, 1519. Melzi became daVinci's principal heir. The “Mona Lisa” was left to Salai.

Although da Vinci is known for his artistic abilities, fewer than two dozen paintings areattributed to him. For centuries afterward, however, thousands of pages from his privatejournals have surfaced.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5

Page 6: Inventors and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci and Scientists: Leonardo da Vinci A portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Second image: Sketches of da Vinci's proposed flying machine. Wikimedia

Quiz

1 Which section of the article BEST reflects the main idea that da Vinci was skilled in manysubjects?

(A) "Humble Beginnings"

(B) “Renaissance Man Emerges In Milan"

(C) "Return To Florence And Mona Lisa”

(D) "Final Years"

2 Which detail from the article would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

(A) The young artist would abandon both commissions without ever completingthem.

(B) In 1502 and 1503, he briefly worked as a military engineer for Cesare Borgia,commander of the pope's army.

(C) For da Vinci, the "Mona Lisa" was forever a work in progress.

(D) Among the students who joined his studio was Francesco Melzi.

3 What is the MOST LIKELY reason why the author includes the information about da Vinci'sdrawings of organs and muscles in the section "Renaissance Man Emerges In Milan"?

(A) to support the idea that he was an innovative artist

(B) to demonstrate his superior attention to detail

(C) to emphasize his interest in drawing human figures

(D) to provide an example of how he connected art and science

4 Which of the following statements is BEST supported by information in the article?

(A) Da Vinci committed his life to creating art since that was the first form of traininghe received.

(B) Da Vinci was most skilled in the scientific realm as compared with the fine arts.

(C) Da Vinci preferred technical work to artistic work, but his art was in higherdemand.

(D) Da Vinci was a perfectionist who did not always follow his projects through tothe end.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6