Observation and Creativity: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) is the epitome of a Renaissance man (1–3). He created exceptional art. He had an immensely imaginative, enquiring mind. His ideas and inventions were often centuries ahead of others. Calling him a scientist might be inaccurate, but he certainly was one of the greatest dreamer-inventors of all times.Leonardo da Vinci trained in Florence in the workshop of the eminent painter Andrea del Verrocchio (c.1435–1488). Then, in 1482 or 1483, he went into the service of Duke Ludovico Sforza in Milan. In Milan, da Vinci painted The Last Supper on the refectory wall in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The painting soon achieved widespread fame and by the 17th century had been commented on as “a very great miracle” (4). During this period he also painted the portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, which is known as Lady with an Ermine . This painting was recently brought to London from Krakow for the exhibition “Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan” at the National Gallery (5).Leonardo spent about a decade at the Sforza court. At that time, the Italian city-states entered a politically turbulent period. The French invaded the Italian peninsula, and Florence became a republic …