Leonardo Da Vinci

Editor's Weekly Ramblings 117

Friday 7th Oct 2005

Leonardo Da Vinci

Recently I found myself reading 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown. I had earlier in the week read Angels and Demons and enjoyed it. So thought I would see what all the fuss about 'The Da Vinci Code' was. Seeing as it had been on the bestseller list for what seemed like an absolute eternity. Anyway, the first four people I mentionned the fact that I was reading it too all said the same thing to me.

'Good book. But it's got a lousy ending'.

And unfortunately they were right. I won't spoil it for you. But suffice to say that reading it is rather like eating a stale bar of chocolate that you find hidden in an old coat pocket after a month. It definitely retains some 'must eat' qualities; but all wrapped up with a rather unfortunate after taste that rather makes you wish you hadn't bothered.

Anyway, there were some insights into the role of women in the Church and Leonardo Da Vinci that did make me think. And so, seeing as the role of women in the Catholic Church is a little 'broad' for a Friday afternoon. I thought we would instead have a little look at the master magician himself with a few interesting tidbits about his life and work, and some quotes from the man himself. (You can read a full biography here afterwards if you are feeling adventurous!)

Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian painter, inventor, musician, and scientist - noted for his many inventions and scientific observations (described in his notebooks); and for such paintings as The Last Supper (c. 1495) and the Mona Lisa (c. 1503)

There are no pieces of sculpture that can definitely be attributed to Leonardo, even though art historians know he learned sculpture when an art apprentice in Verrocchio’s studio. Also, Leonardo left fewer than 30 paintings, and these aren’t even all finished!

A manuscript exists that supposedly proves Leonardo invented the bicycle. The only problems is that it’s drawn in pencil and pencil lead or graphite wasn’t discovered until after his death.

Check out the feminine-looking figure on Christ’s right hand in Leonardo’s painting of the “Last Supper” who Dan Brown in 'The Da Vinci Code' says is really Mary Magdalene. Doubters say that it is really the disciple John... Yeh right! Judge for yourself here - It looks like a woman to me...

The Mona Lisa

The first parachute had been imagined and sketched by Leonardo Da Vinci in the 15th century.