 LEONARDO'S
WORKSHOP: The Invention, Art and Science of Leonardo da Vinci
Performed: April 14, 2003
The life and works of artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci continue
to fascinate us because, while he exemplified the Italian Renaissance,
he transcended his time and place, inventing things like a helicopter
500 years before the technology existed to build one. This performance
invites you to visit the workshop of Leonardo’s mind where
you can learn how a genius thinks.
Enough material has survived from his art works and notebooks
to give us a picture of Leonardo as almost the singular embodiment
of the Renaissance. His mastery of disciplines as diverse as painting,
anatomy, engineering, and music were celebrated in his lifetime
and have been the subject of fascination ever since. He called himself
“unlettered” yet commanded the knowledge of the major
scholarly works of the time, and anticipated a long list of later
discoveries, especially in his mechanical inventions.
»
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[PDF: 3.17MB]
Reading, Media and Web Links:
Books
Michael J. Gelb, How to Think Like Leonardo: Seven Steps to Genius
Every Day. New York, NY: Delacorte Press, 1998.
Janis Herbert, Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas: 21
Activities. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 1998. (A lively biography
for grade 4 and up.)
Andrew Langley, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. Philadelphia,
Pa.: Running Press, 2001. (Grade 4-6)
Fiona Macdonald, The World in the Time of Leonardo da Vinci. Parsippany,
N.J. : Dillon Press, 1998. (Ages 9-12)
Richard McLanathan. Leonardo Da Vinci (An Abrams First Impressions
Book). Abrams Books for Young Readers, 1990. A fresh, detailed introduction
to Leonardo’s art and science, with great explanations and
superb quality reproductions. (Gr. 5–12)
Irma A. Richter, ed., The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. Oxford
; New York : Oxford University Press, 1998. (Comprehensive guide
to Leonardo’s drawings and writings.)
Stewart Ross, Leonardo da Vinci.(Scientists Who Made History Series).
Austin, TX : Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2002. (Ages 9-12)
Peggy Saari & Aaron Saari, eds.; Julie Carnagie, project ed.,
Renaissance & Reformation, Primary Sources. Detroit : UXL, 2002.
Ben Schneiderman, Leonardo’s Laptop: Human Needs and the
New Computing Technologies. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2002.
Diane Stanley, Leonardo da Vinci. HarperCollins, 1996. (Excellent
introduction by one of the best children’s biographers. Grade
2 and up.)
Media
The Cradle of the Renaissance: Italian Music for the Time of Leonardo
da Vinci. London: Hyperion, 1995.
Web sites
Leonardo da Vinci: the Man & the Inventor - http://www.lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/
Leonardo’s Workshop: Renaissance Handbook - http://www.sanford-artedventures.com/play/leonardo/index.html
Leonardo @ the Museum: Virtual Leonardo - http://www.mos.org/leonardo/
Inventor’s Workshop: Leonardo’s Legacy - http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/invention-leonardoslegacy/
Leonardo da Vinci, National Museum of Science and Technology,
Milan - http://www.museoscienza.org/english/leonardo/
Renaissance - http://www.learner.org/interactives/renaissance/
Leonardo Museum in Vinci - http://www.leonet.it/comuni/vinci/ |
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