Leonard da Vinci
(1452, Vinci - 1519, Amboise)


Part/Mark Harden 		Leonardo developed his astonisingly bold empirical approach at a time when scientists still accepted as authorities such ancient Greek and Roman writers as the first-century AD Dioscorides and Galen. 'It seems to me that those sciences are vain and full of error which are not born of experience, mother of all cetainty, first-hand experience which in is origins or means or ends has passed through one of the five senses.' he wrote.
<A World History of Art>
1452 Born at Anchiano close to the small town of Vinci, Tuscan countryside
1462 Became apprentice of Verrocchio
1481 Adoration of the Kings (Uffizi) commissioned for the monks of S.Donato a Scoperto, unfinished
1482 Move to Milan
1483 Commisioned Madonna in the rocks
1493 Equestrian statue for Duc of Milan, Lodovico Sforza
He became interested in science, fliying machines, fortifications, waterways, etc.
"He never formulated his results or attempted any cohereht systematizatioin; when he put theories into practice, whether methods of painting or diersions of rivers, the results were generally faulty."
<The Oxford Companion of Art>
1495 Started to paint the Last Supper, refectory of Sta Maria delle Grazie, Milan,
"In order to avoid the cramping limitations of fresco, ... he experimented with a medium which would allow him to work over the whole compositions simultaneously, like an oil painting. Unfortunately the new medium proved not to be durable and there were already signs of decay during hi life time." <A World History of Art>
1499 Milan was invaded by France.
Moved to Venice and Florence
1502-03 Became artificer of instruments of war for Chezare Borgiana
Back to Florence
1506 Back to Milan
1512-13 Moved to Rome
1516-17 Hermit in Amboise
1519 Died in Amboise


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