Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Italian Master Artists: Da Vinci and Buonarroti's Stories

Leonardo Da Vinci was not only an exceptional artist. He manifested genius in the fields of architecture, engineering, anatomy, botany, geology, and  astronomy. Leonardo has drawn sketches of the human anatomy, observed living creatures, and formation of rocks. His engagement  in various disciplines of  Scince with no particular concentration, and works which were often unfinished, resulted to no concrete or fully completed research. Writing an essay about Leonardo would amuse one of the artist's prowess.

Leonardo was born out of wedlock on April 15, 1452 in the town of Vinci, Florence, to Ser Piero,a notary,  and Caterina, a peasant. Little was known Caterina, who married a man same rank as hers, after giving birth to Leonardo. On the other hand, Piero acknowledged and raised his son, Leonardo despite having married four wives. Leonardo was first educated by the artist, Verrochio, in his workshops. Verrochio collaborated with Leonardo in producing artworks including the painting, Baptism of Christ, and the sculpture, the Archangel Michael in Tobias and the Angel, where Leonardo was said to be the model. At the age of twenty, Leonardo was among the members of a painter's guild, but still continued to work with Verrochio.

Leonardo was often commissioned for service, and his most valuable master piece is the painting, The Last Supper. In his last years, he served King Francois I who eventually became his close friend. Generations have passed and Leonardo and his works still remains an in-demand topic writing an essay.

Another celebrated Italian artist of all time is Michelangelo Buonarroti, who excelled as a sculptor, painter, and architect. He is also an amateur poet. Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475 in the small town of Caprese. Michelangelo lost his mother , Francesca di Neri, at the age of six. His father, Ludovico Buonarroti, came from a poor family. He is not in favor of Michelangelo becoming an artist.

Michelangelo did not let his father's opposition stop him. He worked as an assistant to Domenico Ghirlandajo when he was thirteen and there he learned his first lessons as a painter. Having appreciated Michelangelo's talent, Domenico later recommended фотокнига his student to a school of sculpture run by Lorenzo in the gardens of Medici. Michelangelo received further training until Lorenzo died. He left for Bologna where he was tasked to create figures of saints. He decided to move back to Florence when opportunities did not go well. Here he served for another Lorenzo. Afterward, he went to Rome to continue working.

One of Michelangelo's most important works is the sculpture, Pieta, depicting Mary's mourning over the body of her son, Jesus. Another is his painting on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo originally had some help executing the painting but was not satisfied with his people's work, he chose to complete it alone.

Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti are two Italian artists who have set the standards of Art not only during the Renaissance period, but also of the succeeding eras.  They have shown  dedication toward their craft. They had their own struggles but these did not hinder them from delivering and even exceeding what is expected of them. This is the same virtue one must possess in writing an essay successfully.