Leonardo Da Vinci Paintings – The REAL Renaissance Man

Leonardo Da Vinci paintings were inspired by the romanticism of the Renaissance Age. The economic progress brought on about by the late Medieval years was the backdrop used to inspire the Renaissance Movement. Meaning rebirth, the Renaissance period produced some of the most-known and well-loved artists of all time – such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Sandro Boticelli, among others.

Dubbed as the Italian old master, Da Vinci began to rediscover man's role as a human being, with a realization that he has thoughts, feelings and imagination, taking inspiration from the environment surrounding him. It was a great departure from the chivalry of the early Middle Ages.

Paintings by the Italian master focused on the perfection of the human form, a subject brought on by a renewed interest in Classical Greek and Roman art. Classicism brought on ideals of beauty, harmony and proportion, something Da Vinci's paintings deeply adhered to.

Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings were scientifically detailed

Not only did the Renaissance bring about a strong clamor for everything classical, but it also gave direction in the world's surroundings in terms of scientific exploration and naval navigation. The discoveries of Galileo and Copernicus enhanced the interest of Da Vinci in remaining loyal to the ideals of proportion in his work.

This is the reason why many of Da Vinci's artwork was based on sketches he first practiced on, some even with exact measurements, to emulate the ideal human form in all its proportion. As a result of this reassessment of man and his surroundings, the Humanism movement was formed.