[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on How Leonardo Da Vinci created Illusion with Art
Although Leonardo excelled in almost every field of human endeavor, he always returned to painting, which he called his 'philosophy'. Although he finished little of his commissions and left few paintings for posterity, it is as the creator of the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper that he is still known as the most famous artist in history.
Leonardo collaborated with Verrocchio to create The Baptism of Christ. Leonardo's unique style was evident in his colorful painting of the angel on the left side of the painting. The rich and vibrant landscape in this painting is believed to be the contribution of Leonardo and another great Renaissance painter at this time, Botticelli. What fascinates art critics to this day is that while The Baptism of Christ was painted by these three very unique Renaissance artists-Verrocchio, Leonardo and Botticelli- the end result is a harmonious composition. Having mastered the art of painting, Leonardo left the apprenticeship of Verrocchio to start his own workshop in Florence. Here he was free to develop his own unique style thereby taking the Renaissance to another epoch (Kemp, 30-31).
Leonardo's innovative style took painting to a new period known as the High Renaissance. His use of soft lines and colors created the illusion of movement which became the trademark of High Renaissance art. In 1481 Leonardo was commissioned to begin one of his first independent works, the Adoration of the Magi. This painting, which is housed with many of Leonardo's other great works in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, exudes the genius of Leonardo and his ability to mix science and art. His ability to focus in on every detail like a fine lens camera is exemplified in this painting. Every muscle of the man and the anatomy of the horse in this painting is drawn in fine and precise detail as though observed through a microscopic lens. Similarly, the natural and the architectural backgrounds are accurately and vividly drawn, further blending art and science into one (O'Malley, Saunders, 51)....
