Leonardo
da Vinci the Perfect Role Model
A role model is an
almost indefinable term. Oxford Dictionary defines a role model as, “someone who, in the performance of a role,
is taken as a model by others.”
When studying the definition of a role model, one finds himself running in a
circle of perpetual confusion. To better understand the meaning, I looked to
Oxford yet again, this time to define what a role is seperately and what a
model is and pull them together. According to Oxford, a role is, “the part or character
which one has to play, undertakes, or assumes;” a model is, “a representation
of structure, and related senses.”
So in essence, a role model is a character one has to play for representation
of structure. To even further lighten the meaning, a role model is basically
someone to look up to. The complexity arises due to the fact that everyone has
someone they look up to for certain reasons so the definition of a role model
is different for everyone.
My
personal definition of a role model is someone who you can relate to in some
aspects but that have achieved far beyond expectations and have made an impact
for the better, “role models can be real or fictional, famous or personal.
What’s important is that you have been thinking about that person’s image and
found something attractive in it. It is that ‘something attractive’ that we
want to capture.” Those are
the basic guidelines, my role model fits that mold perfectly and even displays
certain characteristics that far exceed those limitations. After many
considerations, I have chosen to talk about Leonardo da Vinci as my role model
of choice. To clarify, Vinci is by far not my only role model, I find
inspiration in many individuals but for the purpose of this project and its
contents, Vinci is the best choice. He is the best choice for a number of
reasons, though he is a historical figure and one who lived far back into the
14th century, I find I have many similarities with how he lived and
who he was. For this reason primarily I find it easier to have him as a role
model.
To
better understand why Leonardo da Vinci is my role model, it is essential to
know his background and some information on who he was as a man and an artist.
Leonardo was born during the renaissance. In short, the renaissance, meaning
rebirth, is considered the beginning of modern history. The stage was set for a
man to come through who would impact the ways of perception and Leonardo became
that man. Leonardo da Vinci was born the illegitimate son of a 25 year old
notarty, Ser Piero, and a peasant girl whose first name,Caterina is all that is
known. He was born on April 15, 1452 in
Vinci, Italy. During his childhood, Vinci had readily available scholarly texts
which his father and his friends owned. He was also exposed to his father’s
painting tradition, and at the ripe age of 15 he was apprenticed by his father
to the highly renowned workplace of Andrea del Verrochio. Throughout his
apprenticeship, Leonardo displayed his amazing potential with his assistance in
Verrochio’s work. The first taste of success displayed by Leonardo da Vinci was
his work done in Verrochio’s piece, “Baptism of Christ.” Vinci was acquired to
paint an angel; after completion Leonardo’s piece was so well done that
Verrochio vowed never to paint again. Leonardo’s view on painting in art, he
has been quoted saying such beautiful and intellectual remarks as, “ Art is
never finished, only abandoned,”
and, “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come
back to your work your judgement will be surer. Go some distance away because
then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a
lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.”
Through his words of wisdom, he also displays an appreciation for all things
and their workings, “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work
of art.”
Even
after this work, Leonardo’s artwork continued to stand above the rest and
display a talent never before seen. His first dated work was a pen and ink
drawing of a valley, in this drawing Vinci displays perspective that had yet
been shown. He used his immense skill of design, by allowing less detail and
more paper dominate in certain areas to push the background away from the
viewer. Leonardo da Vinci’s work displayed so much emotion and subtle forms of
texture and feeling far exceeding anyone who had come before him. Vinci
completed many masterpieces and left others in progress but to better
understand his style and great accuracy, one can look to probably his most well
known piece, The Mona Lisa. As example of Leonardo’s grand effect on the art
world, there are still mysteries and discoveries being made about the piece
centuries later. But on the surface, the piece is a portrait commisioned by
Francesco di Bartolommeo di Zanobi del Giocondo of his third wife Lisa di
Antonio Maria di Noldo Gherardini. The true mystery and awe of the piece comes
from Vinci’s technique, which included smooth transitions of color, misty hues,
and his sfumato technique, meaning a detailed background which disappears in
the misty atmosphere. The piece is still a monument and brings millions to it
each year. The fact that after the centuries, one man’s passion is renowned and
loved and studied by so many today speaks volumes and is something to live up
to.
Another
thing about Leonardo da Vinci is the fact that he was not a one talent man, he
expanded his passions to many other fields besides art. Vinci was a master of
all trades if you will, one quote stated that, “Leonardo made discoveries
in meteorology and geology, learned the effect of the moon on the tides,
foreshadowed modern theories of the formation of continents, and deduced the
nature of fossil shells. He was among the originators of the science of
hydraulics and probably devised the hydrometer. He invented a large number of
potentially useful and ingenious machines and devices, among them an underwater
diving suit.” Vinci was a successful scientist and had
breakthrough studies in a number of fields including anatomy, biology,
mathematics, and physics. In one of his pieces, Study of Man, he shows his
attention to detail and his extreme focus on how things work.
Now
that I have given a glimpse into the grandness of Leonardo da Vinci’s work and
study I can connect how and why he is a great choice of role model for me. His
artistic technique is one to look up to, I believe, for all artists. I am an
artist myself, I grew up drawing and painting and it has always been a part of
my life. The fact that Leonardo is an artist and was exposed to that as a child
makes it easier to identify with him, even though he was alive centuries ago.
He grew up as a son of a painter and he apprenticed at a young age. Others have
told me, that I have always had a talent and I have entered contests from a
young age and have displayed more talent than those much older than me. To
learn of an artist who showed more talent than his master really pushes me to
strive for perfection. I know that I can not associate my work with that of
Leonardo da Vinci due to the factors that come into play but it is that want,
that drive to be renowned that pushes me to strive for perfection. Having a
role model of such grandeur makes me strive far past the norm.
Also, Leonardo was much more than an
artist. The many things that Leonardo da Vinci found success in makes him a
great role model for everyone. Art has been such a big part of my life for so
long that it sometimes overpowers other activities I am involved in. A role
model should display characteristics you wish to have and that is one I strive
for. He was much more than a famous painter, he excelled in fields of science,
anatomy, and so many other things. I lack in mathematics and science and I feel
it is important to have someone to look up to who stives in all categories;
Leonardo is an example of a man who truly valued many fields. In my eyes, Vinci
was a true master combining the powers of the right and left-sided brain.
Through an evaluation, and by studying my own history I discovered that my
right side of my brain completely dominates the left side. I believe that if I
can truly find a balance between my brain I can truly create works that are far
beyond what I have done in the past. Leonardo da Vinci put his unique technique
into his work and displayed all his knowledge through his work on a canvas.
Role models for my life include a
vast spectrum of individuals. I do not have just one role model by any means. I
find inspiration in all types of people. When choosing a role model for this
project, it came down to picking out one who I could identify with this course.
I went through a whole conflict when choosing; I had so many in-mind that
singling out just one seemed almost impossible. Some of the many candidates
included such far reaches as, Van Gogh, John Schwartz, and even as local as my
father. Each man showed values that I find extremely admirable and could easily
be the subject of this project. When it came down to choosing just one,
Leonardo da Vinci seemed to fit the mold perfectly. He related to our discussions
in so many ways, he displayed writing and learning skills, he was a master of
the right-side and left-side brain, and he was able to portray sympathetic
imagination through his art. As an artist I strive to be like him, as an
intellectual I look up to him, and as a man I can only hope to touch so many as
he did, so, “whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether
that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show,”
For all these reasons and more, Leonardo da Vinci is my definition of a role
model. He was a man who said great things and I leave you with a quote that is
an example of the mystery and knowledge he represented in hopes you will
understand why I have chosen him as a role model, “Although nature commences
with reason and ends in experience it is necessary for us to do the opposite,
that is to commence with experience and from this to proceed to investigate the
reason.”
pic
