Leonardo da Vinci: Part II

Read Part I

"At a time when every individual sought to gain the widest latitude for his activity, which could not take place without the development of energetic aggression towards others, he surprised every one through his quiet peacefulness, his shunning of all competition and controversies. He was mild and kind to all, he was said to have rejected a meat diet because he did not consider it just to rob animals of their lives, and one of his special pleasures was to buy caged birds in the market and set them free." - Sigmund Freud in his biography of Leonardo da Vinci

Many believe that genius is innate. Simply luck of the draw. Yet, even if this is true, an important question remains: how is genius nurtured into greatness?

For Leonardo, maturing from raw talent into profound greatness began in earnest in Verrocchio’s workshop. Considered one of Florence's finest artistic training centers, Verrocchio’s teaching method went beyond painting. His apprentices learned the science of art, from how to innovate in mixing pigments to mastering light and shadow. They were also expected to understand the mechanics of creation: sculpture, engineering, and architecture, disciplines that required precision as much as vision.

Arguably, even more importantly, it was here that Leonardo began to understand the importance of studying as he watched Verrocchio immerse himself in mathematics. Verrocchio understood that mastering mathematics was essential to keeping pace with the artistic revolution unfolding around him. The age of flat, symbolic medieval paintings was giving way to a new era of realism, where depth and proportion were essential. This new style required an understanding of math.