One of my greatest loves in life is my thirst for fine arts. I have been blessed to be able to see some of them first hand; to be able to stand in the same room and view them has left me with many memories and stories to tell my children and my grand children. So I thought it would be kind of exciting to share some of these life altering experiences with you the readers.
Leonardo de Vinci
1452-1519
Leonardo da Vinci was born April 15 th 1452. The painter and scientist was the
illegitimate son of a young notary.
Born in Vinci, Italy April 15 th 1452 and died in 1519. Two of his most famous works of art are known as, The Last Supper and The Mona Lisa. They have stood the test of time and millions hold them in high regard. They have been called the Master Pieces of the world and they have spawned an on flow of great artist each striving to become like the great artist.
The Mona Lisa (La Gioconda) 1503 - 1506 is a portrait painted in oil on a popular panel during the Italian renaissance. It was the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco de Giocondo. She hangs in the Louvre in Paris France and is owned by the French Government.
It has been said by many over the years that no other women's smile has held such mystery. People have speculated as to the model's relationship with the great artist. One thing remains certain in my mind; she was awe inspiring and her mysterious smile very captivating for me.
Mona Lisa
Another of his paintings, The Last Supper as seen below has also kept the world in awe.
This 15 th century mural painting in Milan was painted for his patron Duke Ludovico and his duchess Beatrice d' Este. The mural measures 15 feet by 29 feet and spans the back hall at Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan Italy.
Leonardo began work on the Last Supper in 1495. Completing it in 1498; he did not work on it all the time. As told in the Gospel of John 13:21, Jesus and his Twelve Apostles were having supper one last time together and this is where Jesus told the Apostles that one of them would betray him.
During the 19 th century, a manuscript The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci was found containing the names of all twelve Apostles. A point of interest to many is that until this time, only four of the men were positively identified. Their names being: Judas, Peter, John and Jesus.
The Duke died shortly after the completion of the Last Supper and Leonardo decided to leave Milan. He traveled back to Florence Italy with Michelangelo who was yet another of the world's great painters.
Another point of interest to many concerns the Damage and Restorations concerning the Last Supper. As early as 1517 the painting began to start to flake. In the biography of Leonardo, the writer Giorgio Vasari states that the painting was already ruined and so deteriorated that the figures of the Apostles were unrecognizable.
The first restoration was done by Michelangelo Belloti in 1726. Its second restoration by Giuseppe Mazza in 1770 and again yet another restoration by Stefano Barezzi in 1821.
This great piece of work has been restored several times since then as well. In 1978 -1999 a major restoration guided by Pinin Brambilla Barcilon took 21 years to complete. The Last Supper was put back on display on May 28 th 1999.
