Leonardo Da Vinci

Max Ames

A Brief Description of His LifeBorn in Vinci in 1452

At the age of 15 he is apprenticed by Verrocchio whose workshop is known as one of the finest in Florence

He creates some of the most well-known paintings in the world including: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and Virgin of the Rocks

In 1519, he dies.

Characteristics of Da Vinci’s Paintings

Oil Painting

Underpainting

Monochromatic Shadows

Sfumato

Rocky Landscape

Chiaroscuro

Pointing Finger

Oil Painting

Leonardo laid on oil paint like one would with tempura and gave his paintings subdued coloring and an extremely smooth nature

UnderpaintingLeonardo would create a detailed underpainting in a neutral gray or brown. He would then apply his colors in transparent glazes on top. Sometimes the underpainting would show through the color and help to give the painting form.

Monochromatic ShadowsLeonardo would make the focus point of the painting far away so that the shadows would be closer to monochromatic. Facial features were not strongly defined, instead they were shown through blended variations in tone and color.

SfumatoLeonardo would soften colors and edges with dark glazes. The word sfumato comes from the Italian fumo, which means smoke. This is because the technique makes the painting appear as though all of the edges have been obscured by a haze of transparent shadows or smoke. Sfumato has also been called “Leonardo’s Smoke.”

Rocky Landscape

Leonardo used rocky landscapes as backgrounds to his paintings, which shows his interest in geology.

Chiaroscuro

A style of shading that dominates tone (brightness) more than color

The Pointing Finger

Leonardo often placed in his paintings figures enigmatically pointing their fingers upwards…

St. John the Baptist

St. John in the Wilderness (Bacchus)

The Last Supper

Virgin and child with St. Anne and St. John

The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa is recognized as the most famous painting in the world.

Mona Lisa is to Paintings as Rudolph is to reindeer

CompositionLeonardo used a pyramid design to place the woman in. Her folded hands form the front corner of the pyramid.Her breast, neck and face glow in the same light that models her hands

Hands and armrest

The hands are crossed to show that she is a virtuous woman and faithful wife.

The armrest of the chair she is in divides the viewer from the Mona Lisa

Background

The background is a rocky landscape that shows a path winding back into icy mountains. The curves in the landscape echo the curves of the woman’s hair and clothing

Sfumato

Just look at it…..

Oh… and also, the background on her left is elevated more than than the background on her right.

The Virgin of the Rocks

Some factsThere are two versions of the painting. It is odd for an artist who finished very little to repeat himself

It was made to celebrate the Immaculate Conception

Draws on the legend of Baby Jesus meeting John the Baptist on the flight into Egypt

PlantsDove plants = holy spirit

Stains on the St. John’s wort suggest a martyr’s blood

The creeper symbolizes constancy and virtue

Heart-shapes leaves = love

Palm leaves = victory

THE END