Of all of the historical artists from Italy, none remain quite as prevalent, well-known, inspiring, and impactful in the modern day as Leonardo da Vinci. Considered to be a genius in several fields, ranging from the art world to science, engineering, and architecture, Da Vinci is the epitome of the Renaissance Man. Only making his prowess all the more impressive is the fact that so many of his works went unfinished or were lost to time.
Da Vinci’s contributions to art have stood the test of time, paving the way and setting the example for millions of artists to come. His works continue to inspire and be drawn from to this day in forms of artistry that couldn’t have even been fathomed in the days of the High Renaissance that the Florence-born mastermind inhabited. Here, we explore the legend of Leonardo da Vinci and how we can still see his fingerprints across artistry today.
Unrivalled Masterpieces
It’s very important to showcase that Da Vinci’s genius went far beyond art, but that his skill in the field of art was likely bolstered by his exploits elsewhere. He was an inventor and a scientist, keen to explore new mechanisms, the inner workings of humanity, and, overall, thinking outside of the box. Above all else, he was an innovator, as shown by his exploration of the ideal human with the Vitruvian Man and his Flying Machine. Still, painting is where he garnered most of his fame during the Italian Renaissance, having studied under Verrocchio.
This translated to many of his most famous works. The Mona Lisa is the obvious showcase of this. It’s here that his great skill in the technique of sfumato to eliminate borders by blending tonalities was refined through the years he spent tweaking his personal favorite work. That now stands as the centerpiece of the Musée du Louvre, attracting millions of people to gaze upon the excellence of his work over 500 years on from its inception. Two other pieces stand out even among Da Vinci’s incredible collection of works.
The Last Supper, a wall painting, showcases his attention to detail and ability to breathe life into a still image. He decided that the scene in which Jesus declares that one of his Apostles will betray him needed to demonstrate the personality of each, creating a grand narrative that continues to captivate to this day – even in its fragile, faded form.
Influencing Artistry to this Day
With his most famous work sitting in the most prestigious gallery in France, and thanks to the internet allowing anyone to see photographed images of his art, Da Vinci’s influence has only increased over the last few decades. His genius remains unparalleled in public perception, which has helped to create myths and stories of intrigue around his lost works. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, released in 2003, was a colossal success because it tapped into his enduring influence and mystique, as was the 2006 movie adaptation of the same name. The Mona Lisa has, naturally, also been a huge source of inspiration.
In taking the lead role in 2003’s Mona Lisa Smile, Julia Roberts earned a record fee of $25 million despite the star-studded cast – thus was the perceived draw of the picture. The title alone intrigued, but seeing the Mona Lisa in other media also remains a draw.
One perhaps unexpected example tapping into this and the mystery of Da Vinci’s works shows up in a very modern form of media, an online casino site, home to a popular hybrid slot-and-bingo game named Slingo Da Vinci Diamonds. In this case, the game not only features the Mona Lisa as a prominent part of the experience, but also what Da Vinci could have locked away behind one of his many inventions or puzzles yet to be solved. Of course, the slingo creation is also encased in a particularly opulent setting to reflect the timeless beauty of his works.
The iconic image of the Mona Lisa continues to inspire, as does the Last Supper. You’ll find images from countless modern entertainment productions mimicking the piece to reflect a similar understanding. The Sopranos, House, and even South Park perhaps did this best of all in certain episodes and for promotional materials.
Deservedly, Leonardo da Vinci remains an awe-inspiring source of creativity in all forms of artwork in the modern day, from symbol design in online games to scenes in television shows. Yet, it’s the mystery of the genius that we don’t know that also makes for some particularly striking ventures into art these days.