leonardo da vinci the biography by walter isaacson

Third, because of the commission payment model, it was easier for artists to make a living. Someone could walk into del Verrochio’s workshop any day of the week and pay him to make a custom statue of Hercules, for example. Second, just like you might hire a gardener or carpenter today, people used to order hand-crafted art on commission. Science was meant to be approached creatively and in turn, the principles of science, like the study of human vision and geometric forms, found its way into paintings and sculptures. This alone has several interesting implications.įirst, back in the 15th century, art and engineering went hand in hand. At age 14, he started an apprenticeship under a man named Andrea del Verrocchio, who was an artist and an engineer. However, in no way does it indicate he didn’t work hard to sharpen his talents. Saying Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the few people who still deserves the label ‘genius’ in today’s world is obviously a mouthful. If you want to save this summary for later, download the free PDF and read it whenever you want.ĭownload PDF Lesson 1: Leonardo Da Vinci is the reason we see artists as artists. Ready to learn from the man who ushered in the Renaissance? Let’s go Leonardo!

Prepare your biggest ideas in a way that allows them to be published once you’re gone.

Try to transfer your interests to your projects, even if they seem completely unrelated.

Da Vinci elevated the status of artists as thinkers and innovators.

While I can’t wait to devour the book, which I got as a Christmas gift, I wanted to draw some high-level lessons about the man’s life from reading its summary on Blinkist. Leonardo Da Vinci is one such icon, clearly surpassing the peers of his time in not just his work ethic, but many aspects all at once. However, a few icons are worth holding on to. That’s a good thing, as it puts us in control of our destinies, rather than leaving us as victims of the ‘I’m not gifted’ myth. Modern performance psychology has discredited a lot of what we would have called ‘genius’ 20, 30, or 50 years ago as mere dedication and commitment to one’s work.

In 2017, Leonardo Da Vincijoined the ranks of Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin and Steve Jobs.

Not only does he manage to capture an entire human life in such a form that not a single page feels boring, but he also continues to pick the people most worth studying. If you only read a handful of biographies in your life, make it those written by Walter Isaacson. Listen to the audio of this summary with a free reading.fm account:

Leonardo da vinci the biography by walter isaacson