Knowra Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was an Italian Renaissance artist, inventor, engineer, and scientific observer. His paintings include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, while his notebooks record studies of art, anatomy, nature, and machines.
Mona Lisa : An oil portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, famed for its ambiguous expression and atmospheric landscape. Its subtle modeling and composition exemplify Leonardo’s approach to portraiture.
Sfumato : A painting technique that softens transitions between colors and tones without visible outlines. Leonardo used it to make forms and expressions appear subtly blended.
Renaissance : A period of European cultural change marked by renewed engagement with classical learning, art, and inquiry. Leonardo’s work emerged from the artistic and intellectual currents of this era.
Francesco Melzi : An Italian painter who became Leonardo da Vinci’s pupil, companion, and literary executor. Melzi preserved many of Leonardo’s papers after his death.
High Renaissance : The period of Italian art around 1490–1527 associated with highly developed naturalism, composition, and classical ideals. Leonardo’s mature works helped establish its artistic ambitions.
The Last Supper : Leonardo da Vinci’s mural depicting Jesus announcing that one of his disciples will betray him. Its organized perspective and expressive gestures show his narrative ambitions.
Linear perspective : A geometric method for representing three-dimensional space on a flat surface using converging lines. It structures the architecture and depth of The Last Supper.
Andrea del Verrocchio : An Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, and goldsmith who ran a major workshop in Florence. Leonardo trained in Verrocchio’s workshop, where he learned artistic and technical skills.
Salai : The nickname of Gian Giacomo Caprotti, a painter and long-serving pupil in Leonardo da Vinci’s household. Salai belonged to Leonardo’s close workshop circle and may have modeled for paintings.
Leonardesque : A style associated with Leonardo da Vinci’s soft modeling, enigmatic expressions, and atmospheric effects. The term describes traits that artists and viewers have associated with his influence.
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