Classical Sketches Collection of Ten People

Author: Zhang Hui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: Leonardo da Vinci (1452—1519) was born in Vinci, a small town in Tuscany, Italy, the illegitimate son of his father Piero and a rural girl. In his youth, Leonardo was handsome and had a wide range of interests, showing extraordinary talent in mathematics, music, and painting. His voice was melodious, and he was skilled at playing the lute, especially in sketching, where he demonstrated remarkable talent. As a result, his father sent him to Verrocchio's workshop in Florence to study painting at the age of 15. By the age of 20, Leonardo had already mastered the skills of a master and was active in Milan and Florence. He completed Mona Lisa in 4 years and The Last Supper in 3 years. With just a dozen works, Leonardo established his master status in the Italian Renaissance movement. Leonardo not only captivated the world with the smile of Mona Lisa through his painting talent but also applied his scientific perspective to fields such as mathematics, geometry, perspective, architectural engineering, mechanical manufacturing, and philosophy, making outstanding contributions to human civilization through the integration of science and art. The charm of Leonardo's sketches lies in his passionate and persistent exploration of humanity and nature, as well as the interplay of spirit and matter. From his diverse subjects—such as figures, animals, plants, and mechanical engineering sketches—we can perceive his insatiable thirst for knowledge and creativity. Many of Leonardo's sketches have been lost, and only about 600 are extant today, most of which are housed in the Ambrosian Library and the Royal Library at Windsor in Milan, Italy.
P1 Dürer Albrecht Dürer (1471—1528) was a representative figure of the Northern Renaissance in 15th-century Europe, a genius in painting, mathematics, invention, and architecture. Like Leonardo, Dürer possessed scientific wisdom, deeply studied mathematics and perspective, and wrote extensively in notebooks and treatises. While achieving in perspective and human anatomy, he also invented a system of architecture. Dürer was also an art theorist, authoring Four Books on Painting and Four Books on Human Proportions. His numerous paintings influenced and liberated German art from the constraints of Gothic art, leading it toward a realistic art movement guided by humanism and advancing the art of printmaking to a new stage of perfection. Dürer's extensive works include engravings, oils, and sketches, and the precision of his sketches is comparable to that of Leonardo's. He firmly believed that artists must deeply observe nature and reveal its mysteries to express the inner beauty of humanity and nature, and his works faithfully reflect this belief.
P31 Michelangelo Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475—1564) was born in Caprese, a small town about 65 kilometers from Florence. He lost his mother at the age of 6 and was raised by a stonemason's wife, which may have led him to sculpture. His rigorous apprenticeship in a workshop later honed his resilient will. After the age of 24, Michelangelo became an active artist in Florence and Rome, creating world-famous works such as David, The Holy Family, and The Creation.