My Interest in Leonardo da Vinci

I have been intrigued by the life of Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) for many years. I have, in fact, emulated him in small ways, I think. I am interested in many of the areas in which he excelled, but of course I have only a minute fraction of his talents and skills. One of my favorite recent books, written by Michael Gelb, is entitled "How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci". In it, Gelb says: "The life of Leonardo da Vinci is a mysterious tapestry, woven in paradox, dyed in irony. No one has ever attempted so much in so many areas, and yet much of his work was left unfinished." (p.38)

Leonardo the artist transformed the direction of art, pioneering the use of oil paints, the application of perspective, and several other innovations. The works he left behind are unparalleled, including the Mona Lisa. As an architect and sculptor, his work was also extraordinary. He was consulted on the design of several of the most architecturally challenging cathedrals in Europe during his lifetime. As a scientist, he pioneered the discipline of comparative anatomy, broke new ground in the field of botany, and made several discoveries about fossilization and related matters that contributed significantly to our understanding of geology and physics. Da Vinci's work in engineering (especially what we now call conceptual design) was nothing short of breath taking, with initial designs for helicopters and tanks included in the body of his work.

Da Vinci kept meticulous journals of his thoughts and his work, which were richly illustrated and thoroughly documented. However, the text was all written backward, and in Latin. Clearly, notoriety and adulation were not the things that da Vinci sought. According to Gelb: "Leonardo's loyalty, devotion, and passion were directed, instead, to the pure quest for truth and beauty." (p. 50). What an extraordinary human being this man was!

The 10 Greatest Geniuses in History,
according to The Book of Genius, Buzan and Keene:
1. Leonardo daVinci
2. William Shakespeare
3. The Great Pyramid Builders
4. Johann Wolfgang vonGoethe
5. Michelangelo
6. Sir Issac Newton
7. Thomas Jefferson
8. Alexander the Great
9. Phidias (architect of Athens)
10.Albert Einstein