Diego Velazquez and Leonardo da Vinci

     First, I chose to watch the film Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance (from “Films on Demand”) because I wanted to understand the significance of the phrase “the mind of the Renaissance.”  Second, I chose the film Velazquez (“Films on Demand”) because I wanted to learn about an artist from another country and culture than Leonardo da Vinci.

     I have summarized some key concepts I learned from both:  Leonardo da Vinci lived in the second half of the 15^th century and early 16^th century (whereas Velazquez lived in the beginning of the 17^th century).  Da Vinci was skilled as a mathematician, architect, engineer, musician, and scientist, in addition to being a gifted artist.  The title “Mind of the Renaissance” refers to da Vinci’s brilliance in a variety of subjects.  He lived in Italy during the Renaissance.  He did not think the fine arts should be considered separately, apart from the “mechanical” arts.  He was especially skilled as using light in his paintings.   He believed the job of the artists was to represent man and the motions of his soul.  He studied the human body through dissection of corpses.  He identified 11 elements used to create a work of art (which included light, color, and form), many of which are still considered the basic elements and principles of art.  Many of the figures in his works have the same subtle smile.  Da Vinci many times created works, which he was commissioned to make, but never gave them away.  Two works for which he is very well known are The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. 

     Velazquez was born and lived most of his life in Spain.  He was a painter in the court of King Phillip IV for many years and was a friend of the king.  He painted him several times.  His painting style has been called Baroque, and yet it is quite unique.  As the video points out, his works are not showy or artificial.  His figures are realistic but they all seem to have calm expressions.  He does not portray landscapes (as backgrounds) exactly as they appeared, but he gives the basic sense of the landscape.  He does not use many bright colors.  The lack of detail or color seems to emphasize the souls of the figures rather than their appearance.  He is well known for his paintings of the court jesters who worked for the king.  He also did many equestrian portraits. 

     The text (Living with Art, 10^th Ed. By Mark Getlein) calls da Vinci and Michelangelo the “outstanding figures” of the High Renaissance (371).  It explains that the term “Renaissance man” came to be used because of men like these who were so talented in a variety of skills.  It also mentions that da Vinci studied human proportions and that his math skills are seen in his use of perspective.  Getlein explains that many of his works were unfinished (371).  He explains that da Vinci’s portrayals are often not realistic but have religious meanings (372). 

     The text calls Las Meninas Diego Velazquez’s “masterpiece” (396).  Getlein explains that he “uses light to create drama and emphasis” (396).  He comments on the “theatricality” of this work, which is an example of Baroque art (397).

     These videos taught me more extensively about the lives and work of these two artists than the text.