Leonardo Da Vinci Accomplishments

The Renaissance, also known as the golden period, might be the most important historical event till this day. A plethora of major discoveries were made yearly, which consequently led to the birth of the modern era. This major cultural movement took date between the fourteenth century (pre-renaissance) and the seventeenth century (high-renaissance). The birthplace of this movement was in Florence, Italy. Although the Renaissance is widely known for its artistic movement, Renaissance scholars took from the Middle Age’s logic views and approached them with medicine, philosophy, and science, in order to make “logic” more reasonable. Leonardo Da Vinci made sure science also played a role.

Rendering from the same encyclopedia (Funk and Wagnalls), His first commission was to paint an altarpiece for the Chapel of the Palazzo Vecchio, but was never executed. In 1481, he decided to start one of his first large paintings called, Adoration of the Magi, but was left unfinished because of many interruptions. Eventually, in his mid-years Leonardo decided to write a letter stating many of his skills from building portable bridges, constructing bombardments, cannons, ships, catapults, armored vehicles, and other war machinery in order to enter the service of the duke of Milan. Ironically, the last thing Da Vinci considered himself was an artist. While living in Milan, he worked as an engineer for the duke’s military, while also assisting Luca Pacioli, an Italian mathematician. Da Vinci’ was loyal to Milan but was driven out by the French forces, and left one of his biggest commissions behind (the Sforza horse, for the Sforza family). Ultimately, in 1502 Leonardo returned to Florence under the service of Cesare Borgia, the duke of Romagna, as the duke’s engineer (for the war against Pisa), and architect. In 1503, he had the honor of being one of the artists that got to decide the location for the statue of David, by Michelangelo. Da Vinci was later commissioned to design a decoration for the Palazzo Vecchio’s hall. Later in his life, Leonardo returned to Milan, since Charles d’Amboise (French governor) was in the need of his intelligence. While in Milan, Da Vinci became King Louis XII’s (French king) court painter. In the last of his years, he was under the patronage of Pope Leo X in Rome. In those years (1514-1516), he was housed in the Palazzo Belvedere in the Vatican, where he spent his time with scientific experiments. Little did Leonardo know that he was going to spend the last of his years at the in France under the service of King Francis I (a good friend of his). He