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INDIVIDUALS IN SOCIETY
52 Chapter # ChapterTitle Dates
Leonardo da Vinci
Individuals in Society hat makes a genius? A deep curiosity about an exten-
sive variety of subjects? A divine spark that emerges
Win talents that far exceed the norm? Or is it just “one
biographical essays allow you to percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,” as
Thomas Edison said? However it is defined, Leonardo da Vinci
see the past through individual counts as a genius. In fact, Leonardo was one of the individuals
whom the Renaissance label genius was designed to describe:
a special kind of human being with exceptional creative pow-
people’s lives. ers. Leonardo (who, despite the title of a popular novel and
film, is always called by his first name) was born in Vinci, near
Florence, the illegitimate son of Caterina, a local peasant girl,
and Ser Piero da Vinci, a notary public. When Ser Piero’s mar-
riage to Donna Albrussia produced no children, he and his wife
took in Leonardo, whose mother had married another man.
Ser Piero secured Leonardo an apprenticeship with the painter
and sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. In 1472, when
this sample.
Leonardo was just twenty years old, he was already listed as a
master in Florence’s “Company of Artists.”
Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
Leonardo’s most famous portrait,
Leonardo’s most famous portrait, Mona Lisa , shows a woman
with an enigmatic smile that Giorgio Vasari described as “so
with an enigmatic smile that Giorgio Vasari described as “so
Worth Publishers.
pleasing that it seemed divine rather than human.” The portrait,
pleasing that it seemed divine rather than human.” The portrait,
Printing centers with 10°W 0° 60°N 10°E 20°E 0
20°E
probably of the young wife of a rich Florentine merchant (her
NORWAY
135–155 What new ideas were associated with the Renaissance? 59 probably of the young wife of a rich Florentine merchant (her
date of establishment
SWEDEN
exact identity is hotly debated), may be the best-known painting
exact identity is hotly debated), may be the best-known painting
15th century
in the history of art. One of its competitors for that designation
ockholm
c
c
c
C
16th century SCOTLAND Stockholm in the history of art. One of its competitors for that designation Vitruvian Man, a drawing by Leonardo showing correlations
3
3
1483 83
3
would be another work of Leonardo, The Last Supper , which has
Political boundaries Edinburgh would be another work of Leonardo, between the ideal human proportions and the geometric shapes
been called “the most revered painting in the world.”
in 1490 1507 North been called “the most revered painting in the world.” of the circle and square, is based on the ideas of the ancient
national capitals at Paris and London. What are now the countries of Germany and Italy did For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.
IRELAND Dublin Sea DENMARK ings, however, which are actually few in number, but rather on Roman architect Vitruvius, whose works Leonardo read. (The Picture
Leonardo’s reputation as a genius does not rest on his paint-
Leonardo’s reputation as a genius does not rest on his paint-
ings, however, which are actually few in number, but rather on
Art Collection/Alamy Stock Photo)
Uncorrected proofs have been used in
the breadth of his abilities and interests. He is considered by
0 50°N 1551 Copenhagen Baltic c 30°E 0 the breadth of his abilities and interests. He is considered by
Sea
p p
30°E
many the first “Renaissance man,” a phrase still used for a multi-
ENGLAND 1493 many the first “Renaissance man,” a phrase still used for a multi- as it was finished. Leonardo regarded it as never quite com-
talented individual. Hoping to reproduce what the eye can see,
talented individual. Hoping to reproduce what the eye can see,
0
150
300 miles
Oxford Emden Lübeck 1475 0 0 150 300 miles pleted, for he could not find a model for the face of Christ who
d d
he drew everything he saw around him, including executed
1478 Amsterdam 1554 Hamburg 1491 0 0 150 0 300 kilometers he drew everything he saw around him, including executed would evoke the spiritual depth he felt the figure deserved.
kl
300
criminals hanging on gallows as well as the beauties of nature.
London 1480 1523 Utrecht 1472 ROMAN Berlin criminals hanging on gallows as well as the beauties of nature. His gigantic equestrian statue in honor of Ludovico’s father,
Deventer 1477HOLY
Trying to understand how the human body worked, Leonardo
Bruges 1474 Antwerp 1470 EMPIRE 1540 POLAND Trying to understand how the human body worked, Leonardo Duke Francesco Sforza, was never made, and the clay model
studied live and dead bodies, doing autopsies and dissections
Brussels 1474 Cologne 1466 Leipzig studied live and dead bodies, doing autopsies and dissections collapsed. He planned to write books on many subjects but
ATLANTIC Gutenberg Bonn 1543 1481 Wroclaw 1475 N to investigate muscles and circulation. He carefully analyzed never finished any of them, leaving only notebooks. Leonardo
to investigate muscles and circulation. He carefully analyzed
Frankfurt 1478
the effects of light, and he experimented with perspective.
OCEAN Paris establishes Bamberg Prague 1478 7 Kraków 1474 W E the effects of light, and he experimented with perspective. once said that “a painter is not admirable unless he is universal.”
by Bedford, Freeman &
first printing Mainz
Leonardo used his drawings not only as the basis for his
1470 press, 1448 4 1460 Nuremberg Leonardo used his drawings not only as the basis for his The patrons who supported him — and he was supported very
Strasb bourg Rhine R. 1470 S paintings but also as a tool of scientific investigation. He drew well — perhaps wished that his inspirations would have been
paintings but also as a tool of scientific investigation. He drew
b b
1460 A A Augsburg 1468
plans for hundreds of inventions, many of which would become
FRANCE Basel 1462 Munich h plans for hundreds of inventions, many of which would become a bit less universal in scope, or at least accompanied by more
reality centuries later, such as the helicopter, tank, machine gun,
Cluny 1483 Bern Zurich 1482 Vienna Buda d reality centuries later, such as the helicopter, tank, machine gun, perspiration.
1482
1525 1 1508 1473 and parachute. He was hired by one of the powerful new rulers
and parachute. He was hired by one of the powerful new rulers
Lyons 1473 Geneva Milan Venice HUNGARY MOLDAVIA A A in Italy, Duke Ludovico Sforza of Milan, to design weapons, for- QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS
in Italy, Duke Ludovico Sforza of Milan, to design weapons, for-
1478
tresses, and water systems, as well as to produce works of art.
tresses, and water systems, as well as to produce works of art.
1469
9
PORTUGAL Madrid Florence PAPAL Danube R. pope and the French king. other? Which better fits Leonardo?

When Sforza was overthrown, Leonardo left Milan and spent
1552
R
the last years of his life painting, drawing, and designing for the
“Renaissance man” both support and contradict each
the last years of his life painting, drawing, and designing for the
0
40°N L L L L NAVARRE Rhône R. 1470 V E E N I C E Belgrade When Sforza was overthrown, Leonardo left Milan and spent 1. In what ways do the notions of a “genius” and of a
pope and the French king.
1471
Leonardo experimented with new materials for paint-

Lisbon 1499 ARAGON Barcelona STA ATES OTTOMAN Leonardo experimented with new materials for paint- 2. Has the idea of artistic genius changed since the
ing and sculpture, not all of which worked. The experimental
1489 CASTILE 1475 Subiaco EMPIRE ing and sculpture, not all of which worked. The experimental Renaissance? How?
Rome 1465 Constantinop p p ple method he used to paint The Last Supper caused the picture to
method he used to paint
Valencia 1467 essalonica 1488 Sources: Giorgio Vasari, Lives of the Artists , vol. 1, trans. G. Bull (London: Penguin
1473 Naples NAPLES 1515 deteriorate rapidly, and it began to flake off the wall as soon Books, 1965); S. B. Nuland, Leonardo da Vinci (New York: Lipper/Viking, 2000).
deteriorate rapidly, and it began to flake off the wall as soon
1471
GRANADA M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a 52
Copyright ©
1480
AFRICA R Reggio di Calabria 135–155 Review & Explore 75
MAPPING THE PAST
3. How did art reflect new Renaissance ideals? ( p. 60 )
wieswest14e_12_m02_32988 Growth of Printing in Europe Map positioning guide
Distributed
First Proof Type block map
MAP 2.2 The Growth of Printing in Europe, 1448–1554 4. What were the key social hierarchies in Renaissance Europe? ( p. 67 )
Bleeds top and right
Trim: 48p0 x 36p6
The speed with which artisans spread printing technology across Europe provides strong Align top map trim at top page trim
5. How did nation-states develop in this period? ( p. 70 )
evidence for the growing demand for reading material. Presses in the Ottoman Empire were Position left map trim at type block
first established by Jewish immigrants who printed works in Hebrew, Greek, and Spanish. Extra map area on bleed side will be cropped
ANALYZING THE MAP What part of Europe had the greatest number of printing presses Suggested Resources
by 1554? BOOKS
CONNECTIONS France and England became unified nation-states in the fifteenth century, with Earle, T. F., and K. J. P. Lowe, eds. Black Africans in King, Ross. Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power . 2006.

not unify but remained collections of smaller states. How does this help explain why printing Renaissance Europe . 2005. Includes essays discussing A brief biography that explores Machiavelli’s thought
spread as it did? many aspects of ideas about race and the experience of in its social and political context.
Africans in Europe. Man, John. Gutenberg Revolution: The Story of a

Eisenstein, Elizabeth. The Printing Press as an Agent of Genius and an Invention That Changed the World .
copy, professional copyists writing by hand and wood- paper, setting themselves up in business ( Map 2.2 ). Change: Communications and Cultural Transformations 2002. Presents a rather idealized view of Gutenberg,
block printers, along with monks and nuns, were Historians estimate that, within a half century of the
Practice reading and interpreting maps in Early Modern Europe . 1979. The definitive study of but has good discussions of his milieu and excellent
already churning out reading materials on paper as
publication of Gutenberg’s Bible in 1456, somewhere
fast as they could for the growing number of people between 8 million and 20 million books were printed the impact of printing. illustrations.
with Mapping the Past activities, Ertman, Thomas. The Birth of Leviathan: Building States Najemy, John M. A History of Florence, 1200–1575 .
in Europe. Whatever the actual figure, the number is
who could read.

far greater than the number of books produced in all
Gutenberg was not the only one to recognize
and Regimes in Medieval and Early Modern Europe . 1997.
2008. A comprehensive survey of cultural, political, and
the huge market for books, and his invention was of Western history up to that point. A good introduction to the creation of nation-states. social developments, based on the newest research.
which ask you to analyze the maps and
The effects of the invention of movable-type print-
quickly copied. Other craftsmen made their own

type, built their own presses, and bought their own ing were not felt overnight. Nevertheless, movable Hartt, Frederick, and David Wilkins. History of Italian Nauert, Charles. Humanism and the Culture of Renais-
make connections to the larger Renaissance Art , 7th ed. 2010. A comprehensive survey sance Europe , 2d ed. 2006. A thorough introduction to
of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Italy.
humanism throughout Europe.

processes discussed in the narrative. 59 Heng, Geraldine. The Invention of Race in the Euro- Rummel, Erica. Desiderius Erasmus . 2006. An excel-

pean Middle Ages . 2018. A survey of medieval ideas lent short introduction to Erasmus as a scholar and
about difference. Christian thinker.

Jardine, Lisa. Worldly Goods: A New History of the Waley, Daniel, and Trevor Dean. The Italian City-
Renaissance . 1998. Discusses changing notions of Republics , 4th ed. 2009. Analyzes the rise of indepen-
social status, artistic patronage, and consumer goods. dent city-states in northern Italy, including discussion

Johnson, Geraldine. Renaissance Art: A Very Short of the artistic and social lives of their inhabitants.
Introduction . 2005. An excellent brief survey that Wiesner-Hanks, Merry E. Women and Gender in Early

includes male and female artists, and sets the art in its Modern Europe , 4th ed. 2019. Discusses all aspects of
cultural and historical context. women’s lives and ideas about gender.
MEDIA
The Agony and the Ecstasy (Carol Reed, 1965). A classic
The Suggested Resources listing instruments, clothing, household furnishings, and
film highlighting the conflict between Michelangelo political and economic developments. www
invites you to explore beyond the .metmuseum.org/toah /
and Pope Julius II over the painting of the Sistine
Chapel, with Charlton Heston as the artist and Rex Leonardo da Vinci (BBC, 2004). A three-part docu-
Harrison as the pope.
xxxiv chapter content. mentary telling the life story of Leonardo as an artist,
The Borgias (Showtime, 2011). A fictionalized docudrama inventor, and engineer. Features tests of his designs
of the rise of the Borgia family to power in the church and for the parachute, tank, diving suit, and glider, and an
in Italy, with Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI. investigation of the Mona Lisa .
Dangerous Beauty (Marshall Herskovitz, 1998). A Medici Archive Project. An online database for
biographical drama about the life of Veronica Franco, researching the nearly 3 million letters held by the
a well-educated courtesan in sixteenth-century Venice, archives on the Medici Grand Dukes of Tuscany, who
based on the biography of Franco written by Margaret ruled Florence from 1537 to 1743. Includes topical
Rosenthal. “document highlights” in English and Italian, accom-
01_howsap14e_48443_fm_i_HTS-18.indd 34 Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. An online chrono- panied by illustrations. www.medici.org / 17/10/23 3:16 PM
logical, geographical, and thematic exploration of The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance (PBS, 2004).
the history of art from around the world, run by the A four-part documentary examining the power and
Metropolitan Museum of Art. It includes numerous patronage of the Medici family, shot on location, with
special topics sections on nearly every aspect of extensive coverage of art and architecture.
Renaissance art, and also on book production, musical