Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Universal genius: Artist, technician and scientist
From all large philosopher the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci probably corresponds to the ideal of universal humans at most. It was likewise in the natural sciences bewandert as in art and philosophy. It was one of the most inventive and most talented spirit, which it gave ever, but its actual influence on the progress of science and technology was small.
Leonardo did not undertake an attempt, in order to publish its realizations or inventions. When it died, its numerous documents changed into the possession of a favourite pupil. With the time the papers were torn apart, them moved in private libraries and collections - one lost sight of them. Therefore they remained long unknown and Leonardos technological gift more more prophetischer several centuries than practical nature.
On 15 April 1452 Leonardo da Vinci in Anchiano, a village in the proximity of the small city Vinci was born. Its father, Ser Piero, was a successful notary; his nut/mother a farmer girl of name Caterina. Leonardos early child years were coined/shaped of separated living parents as well as of a stepmother. As an illegitimate son it buildup in the paternal family.
Leonardo visited only the few classes of the primary school of the village and learned only with trouble vintages, letter and counting. He loved the land life and accompanied its uncle Francesco with its excursions by the country. Francesco was Leonardos model and educated it to the love for nature and for the animals.
Since Leonardo was an illegitimate son of Ser Piero, he could learn neither occupation of its father still another another occupation high-posed. Illegitimate children was at that time - if it did not concern such out of noble or influential powerful families, to which entrance to the university blocks. Thus Leonardo was not even instructed in latin language, which was at that time the indispensable basis of each good school training. Leonardo should be lives long under its latin knowledge lacking to suffer.
Already as a boy it put a remarkable artistic gift to the day, which its father did not remain hidden. In order to improve its indication knowledge, the boy with persistent perseverance and largest care observed the variety of nature. In this observation gift going into the smallest detail one of the sources for the special Verquickung of art and science may lie, which carried out themselves in Leonardos spirit.
Leonardo received its first artistic order from its father Ser Piero. It concerned a Rundschild, which should be painted as wall decoration. Leonardo collected lizards, crickets, queues, grasshoppers, moths and bats in its room. The Gestank of these animal wastes did not seem to have disturbed the boy and reminded of its later behavior during its anatomical investigations, where it likewise showed corpses and blood opposite no feeling.
1469 moved to Leonardo with its father to Florenz. Ser Piero, which wanted to promote the artistic gift of its son, submitted Leonardos designs Andrea del Verrocchio, an outstanding painter and sculptor of the city. This accepted the boy to its workshop, in which Leonardo should zubringen twelve years of its life.
Lorenzo de' Medici, which estimated Verrocchio much, gave this numerous orders, so that its workshop in the course of the time to one became the most successful from completely Florenz. Leonardo had modestly to the discipline and the spirit of its instructor to subordinate itself, who intended to teach to him in traditional way, what one generally as “mechanical arts” designated, thus drawing, Kolorieren as well as mixing of the colors and the preparation to the casting.
The pupils, who learned also theory of mathematics, geometry and anatomy, were predominantly educated in the tradition of the craftsmen. Due to their unawareness of latin and the philosophical literature they did not have an entrance to the circle of the scholars.
Due to its extraordinary artistic gift Leonardo became soon, beside Lorenzo di Credi and Pietro Perugino, one of Verrocchios favourite pupils. The master entrusted to it ever more responsible tasks. In addition for example the execution of the angel from the baptism Christi counted. One tells oneself that Verrocchio is to have stopped paint, when he had seen the angel of Leonardo.
Leonardos career as painters was shining, although he completed only relatively fewer pictures. Sometimes its work under its passion for technical experiments suffered. When it was e.g. assigned to paint the Fresko the communion for the church Santa Maria depression Grazie in Milan it tried it with oil on mortars - the result was devastating. The work exhibited already to Leonardos lifetimes substantial destruction and had to be often restored and repaired.
Leonardo da Vinci was a first artist, who dissected the human body and which let a new and realistic picture develop due to these results humans. Starting from the year 1510 it took its more than 20 years ago anatomical studies begun. Its eagerness affected by the acquaintance with Marcantonio della Torre in the year 1509, that doctor of the medicine, which at the university of Pisa taught and dedicated themselves to the “study of the corpses” with special eagerness.
The “Notomia”, as Leonardo designated anatomy, was subjected to restrictive laws. The number of corpses, who were put to the researchers at the disposal, was extremely limited due to these regulations. The section, today a procedure way of medical research become the matter of course, was condemned still sharply at that time of the religiousness. The dark but faith of that time led to the fact that the students themselves rejected and to prevent looked for investigations. Only at present of Descartes in 17. Century one waited the practice of the section.
Leonardo is 1515, at a time, in which dissecting of humans was forbidden by papal arrangements, which anatomy of over 30 men - and woman Mrs. each age examined. The goal of its research was not only anatomical, but also physiologically and morphologically.
If Leonardos anatomical studies were so far predominantly limited to the study of the building method and the mechanics of the human body as well as the function of individual parts, then it was inspired by Marcantonio to expand its investigations also since animals and employ comparative considerations in this way. Likewise the development of individual organs as well as the whole body should be investigated from the Fötus to the adult. Leonardo made itself with nearly feverful enthusiasm to dismembering of corpses, predominantly from criminals, whereby he could be deterred neither by the terrible sight of “these slit and zerfetzten… bodies” during the nocturnal section with candle light, still by the substantial risk of infection.
Leonardo discovered the true beauty of this wonderwork of the creation in dismembering a human body only. Still at the age of 60 years it visited at night the cemetery of Milan. Secretly Leonardo bone and head sawed and häutete the corpses, in order to study the nerves and the muscle system.
“Leave you by the fear one night ago in society of these dead, carved up and skinned bodies schaurig which can be regarded do not deter”, guesses/advises it an imaginary student, who would like himself to take part in a Leichenöffnung. Leonardo held that the decay process of the bodies began very rapidly and that it would have used more time around it to examine and draw. Likewise it that several bodies were necessary sometimes, noted around “the differences to discover”.
In order to be able to illustrate all details better, Leonardo developed a singular drawing technique, with which he showed each part, each organ, each bone and each muscles plastic, thus under different points of view. Leonardo concentrated particularly on the study and the representation muscles, by being particularly concerned with the surface musculature. He knew particularly important role around of them during the definition of the outside body forms and with the expression of the feelings. Physiologically seen, seized Leonardo the general laws of the muscle mechanics in their relationship between bones and joints.
In the context of its research an anatomical representation of the human body of unbelievable plastic Eindringlichkeit and scientific exactness originated in, like it up to the end 18 on more than 200 sheets. Century one reached by nobody again.
Leonardo stood from 1483 to 1499 in the service of the duke of Milan. When the city was conquered of France, it returned to Florenz, where it worked as a military engineer for Cesare Borgia. 1507 it accepted an offer of the French king Franz I. and shifted its domicile into the castle of Cloux in close proximity to Amboise, which the French king had given it. There it lived up to its death and was exclusively concerned with scientific investigations.
Many of Leonardos mechanical drafts were not applicable. Others could function only, than a source of strength, a steam engine, was e.g. available.
Toward end of its life Leonardo was ever more convinced of the fact that a Sintflut would finally devour mankind with all its vanities and physical defects.
