The original Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci was not just a painter, but also an inventor, military engineer, sculptor, illustrator, architect, and scientist. His talents were extraordinary, yet he left many paintings unfinished, and never published his journals. [Editor's Note: An updated version of this topic can be found here: Leonardo da Vinci]
From the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, comes a collection of models created from Leonardo's sketches. Leonardo's fifteenth-century illustrations foretold today's helicopters, parachutes, tire jacks and more. For example, to reach the top of an enemy fortress, Leonardo designed a scaling ladder very similar to today's hook-and-ladder fire trucks. He drew his mechanical ideas with such exceptional clarity, that five hundred years later, they can easily be used as blueprints to create perfect working models.
This comprehensive site for fourth- through eighth-graders, created by the Boston Museum of Science, brings Leonardo's work alive through activities. It is divided into four sections: Inventor's Workshop (Leonardo's machines), Leonardo's Perspective (Renaissance drawing techniques), What, Where, When? (a brief bio), and Right to Left (his curious habit of writing in reverse). The online activities include three Shockwave lessons in perspective and the opportunity to decipher one of Leonardo's inventions. Is it a drill, a crane, a wrecking ball? Teachers and home schoolers should read the Introductory Letter for a complete lesson plan.
Located in the medieval Castello Guidi, the Leonardo Museum dominates the small city of Vinci, Italy, where Leonardo was born. The museum has been recently renovated and you can now tour its collection of mechanical models (inspired by Leonardo's drawings) online. As you enter each floor, you will see a menu of models on the left side of your screen. I did encounter a few navigational problems, but I figured this a small price to pay to avoid the expense of flying there.
You'll find it all here, including Leonardo's most famous paintings: the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. Much has been written about the Mona Lisa and the source of her enigmatic expression, which seems both alluring and aloof. Leonardo himself loved the portrait, and carried it with him until it was eventually sold to François I. Very little is said about the Last Supper, except that Leonardo's fresco preparations were so poor that the painting is almost disappearing. In general, I found the commentary uneven, but the WebMuseum does present a large gallery of sketches and paintings.
The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!
Art for Kids: da VinciLeonardo da Vinci | Why is Mona Lisa Smiling? |
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