Leonardo da Vinci
Topic: Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 3 "Changing Traditions"; Class 11, Ch 5 "Changing Cultural Traditions"
Meaning
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was an Italian painter, scientist and inventor of the Renaissance. His interests ranged from botany (the study of plants) and anatomy (the study of the body) to mathematics and art. He trusted what he could see and test for himself, so he signed himself a "disciple of experiment". For UPSC he is the best example of the "Renaissance Man", a person skilled in many fields at once.
Example
Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper (1495). He also designed a flying machine, centuries before real aircraft.
Don't confuse with
- Michelangelo: he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling and designed the dome of St Peter's. The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper belong to Leonardo.