"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things." Leonardo da Vinci
When you think about Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) – perhaps the first thing you think of are his works of art such as The Mona Lisa, Adoration of the Magi or The Last Supper.
Whereas most of us are familiar with his contribution to the world of art, we don’t always immediately realise or remember his contribution to life and society through his fostered talents that stretched across the board.
Leonardo da Vinci produced detailed anatomical, botanical and geological sketches (combining art and science), he was an inventor and his inventions are the basis for things we still use today. His designs later helped us to invent things like the tank, parachute, helicopter, concentrated solar power, a calculator, extendable ladders, scissors etc., the double hull – and plate tectonics – while advancing the study of anatomy, civil engineering, optics, and hydrodynamics.
Leonardo da Vinci was also known for his musical and athletic talent, his physique, his looks, his sense of humour and character.
Leonardo da Vinci complemented his broad knowledge and intelligence with a life commitment to understanding himself and the world around him, through curiosity, investigation, self-reflection and feedback from others. He conducted and recorded dozens of carefully thought out experiments and created futuristic inventions that were ground-breaking for the time.
Leonardo da Vinci is a good role model for us in the way we can explore our full capacity by applying the scientific method to every aspect of life, including art and music so we can access and actualise the gifts we already have.
Comments