A true Renaissance Man
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)Most know something about Leo...Here's a few bits of legend about the world's smartest person ever that most may not know.
The Scary Shield
When a teenager, legend has it that young Leonardo was asked by his father to paint a round shield. He thought it would be cool to paint a really creepy head, so he set about collecting all sorts of vermin - lizards, bats, maggots, etc. - eventually painting a truly disgusting monster exhaling smoke and poison gas. The legend continues to state that he was so engrossed in his painting that he failed to notice that the specimens had begun to rot. When his father was finally allowed to view the shield...he was so startled by its realism that he knew his son could only be an artist.
A footnote from the archives:
A writer or artist may be doing his hardest work when apparently he is doing nothing. It is hard for the ordinary observer to understand that in inactivity a creative person may be consuming energy. Time must be permitted to play its part. When Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest creative artists of all time, was at work on his famous "The Last Supper," in Santa Maria Delle Gracie, Milan, the prior of the monastery complained to Duke Lodovico that, while the work was far advanced, it still lacked two figures - Judas and Christ Leonardo, one of the hardest working painters who ever lived, had an answer: "Your Excellency is aware the Judas is missing. I cannot find features fit for so abandoned a character. I have been going every morning and evening for more than a year to the criminal quarter, in which the scum of humanity live, but I have not found what I want. If I continue to search in vain, I shall have to use the prior's head. It would serve well for the purpose. I have only hesitated to do this out of consideration for his feeling." Lodovico laughed heartily, and passed the story on. Leonardo was permitted by the prior to finish his work in his own way, and in his own time.
Leonardo used his brilliance with humor often. He was strong , kind and driven to explore new things...often leaving things unfinished....yet he still gifted us with so much...we're still struggling to uncover/understand it all. And they say the Middle Ages weren't exciting. I hope you enjoyed this bit of Medieval trivia.
Rebekah