The period of the cultural Renaissance, marked, first of all, by the increased interest in antique values in Italy, is determined by historical science precisely in 1456. This time corresponds to the conditional end of the Middle Ages, which began to manifest itself in all spheres of life, including primarily culture and social activities. And therefore, the work of Leonardo da Vinci in this context is of particular interest.
The personality of Leonardo da Vinci rendered an invaluable service for the development of the spiritual aspect of the Renaissance in Italy, torn apart by both internal contradictions and external feudal wars. After all, his creative heritage is still amazing even the most sophisticated modern man.
The inspired atmosphere of that era is fully reflected at the same time by the cheerful and cheerful disposition of Raphael, always surrounded by a company of friends, and the thoughtful and gloomy character of Michelangelo, who, together with Leonardo da Vinci, receives a lucrative order for the painting of the Christian Cathedral in Florence. And the leadership of this grandiose project is entrusted to the young and ambitious official Niccolo Machiavelli.
And it is precisely this wide range of spiritual realization that is at the forefront of the time when the idealization of antiquity becomes that mathematically verified model of architecture and art. Moreover, the Greco-Roman heritage is fully complemented by appropriate creative processing, which was able to bring characteristic uniqueness and originality to the cultural heritage of its era.
The creative heritage of Leonardo da Vinci
Today it is reliably known that the genius of Leonardo da Vinci managed to spread to almost all areas of painting and engineering. Due to the fact that at one time he was much less in demand as an artist, this talented person had to position himself primarily as an engineer creating new weapons, or, for example, as a cook who was able to invent a sufficient number of new and gourmet dishes.
It is known that in Milan he was responsible for the table of the duke himself, in connection with which he had to manage not only the whole range of events for serving various solemn feasts, but also to deal with issues related to the preparation of the entire range of menus. And among his most famous achievements in the field of engineering constructions, one should single out numerous high-quality drawings of airplanes, according to which even today quite relevant aeronautical equipment can be made.
This ingenious inventor believed that man was created for air flights. So, in the list of his thematic creations there is a parachute, a telescope with two lenses, a lightweight version of mobile bridges and much more. His research in the field of anatomy deserved special words of gratitude, because he in this direction of science overtook his time by at least three centuries.
Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life in France, where he was actively involved in the organization of court celebrations, led the project to change the channels of the two rivers, created a plan of the canal between them, and also planned the construction of a new royal palace. Truly, the genius of this man was inexhaustible. Perhaps he can lead the list of ingenious people of the planet of all time.
Assessment of art experts
The painting "John the Baptist", painted by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, is painted in oil. It refers to a later period of the master of painting. The decadent nature of this work is evidenced not only by the artist’s life, but also by the end of the Renaissance itself, which inspired the whole European world of culture and art. This is clearly seen, both in the image of John, and in the absence of a traditional landscape in the background of the picture.
"John the Baptist" was written by the artist in the estate of Clouet (the city of Amboise in central France), when he was held in high esteem and surrounded by universal recognition and attention. It is known that Leonardo da Vinci was no longer satisfied with his own work. He was constantly engaged in remaking and supplementing his old works, which he brought with him in large numbers here. By all accounts, it is clear that this picture was "brought to mind" during its extreme creative decline.
The picture shows a young man, one arm of which is facing up, and the other presses a cross to his chest. The mystery and mystery of the image is enhanced by the contrast of the dark background and the illuminated figure of a young man. Despite the enthusiastic reviews of colleagues in the creative workshop and critics about the works of the artist of that time, it was the painting "John the Baptist" that caused them genuine surprise. After all, the usual canonical image of the saint in this case was very different from the received image.
Religious tradition unambiguously interprets the personality of John the Baptist, who appeared in the Holy Scripture as a severe ascetic with a plentiful hair covering on his face. Therefore, the ambiguous smile of the young man depicted in the picture does not fit in with the classical perception of the famous historical and religious character. It is important to understand that it was such a smile that was characteristic of all the faces of the people depicted by Leonardo in his late period of creativity.
It is the absence of a picturesque landscape in the background of the painting "John the Baptist" and the flowering image of a young man that does not correspond to the canonical rules for the artistic reproduction of images, suggest that Da Vinci in this case wants to make a special impression on the viewer. Perhaps this kind of ambiguity can be associated with many only with an ironic motive and a certain insight, which allows you to look beyond the traditional framework of life.
Brief description of the painting
Against a dark background of the picture depicts a young John. Light falls on it from above and on the left side. With the index finger of the right hand, the saint points to a cross located on his chest and which is his immediate attribute. It is the cross and the vault of heaven that symbolize the coming of the Savior. Therefore, this gesture eloquently testifies to the promise when all people need to reflect on the spiritual feat associated with the preparation for this most important event.
In the picture of Leonardo da Vinci, the character depicted communicates with the audience through his eyes. He smiles tenderly, and his figure is fully consistent with the type of mature artist. As a hermit's clothing, a fur skin acts. He is not fully dressed, leaving his right shoulder bare with the right proportions. And the long curly hair of John the Baptist flows in waves on his shoulders.
Many experts suggest that his student Salai served as a model for the artist. All chiaroscuros and contrast transitions are delicate and refined. The famous sfumato, invented earlier by Leonardo da Vinci himself, is fully realized here. The roundness and plasticity of perfect forms is emphasized in the picture with soft and very delicate transitions between light and dark tones. This way of depicting reflects the spiritual state of the saint. Surprisingly, it is impossible to see brush strokes on the canvas.
