Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (ca. 1515–1518), attributed to Francesco Melzi (Royal Collection, United Kingdom)
It would be hard to challenge the often-repeated claim that Leonardo da Vinci is perhaps the most diversely talented individual ever to have lived. Even to describe him as the prime example of the “Renaissance man” seems to fall woefully short for this polymath whose insatiable curiosity led him to so many discoveries in the arts and sciences.
Against the dynamic backdrop of Renaissance Italy, art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine highlights some of the most remarkable aspects of Leonardo’s life, work, and creative thinking.
10–11 a.m. The Making of the Artist
Leonardo’s artistic and intellectual development as shaped by the broader context of Renaissance Florence and his study with Andrea del Verrocchio.
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Idea of the Divine
Leonardo as a painter of sacred subjects: the Holy Family, St. John the Baptist, the Last Supper, and the unfinished Adoration of the Magi.
12:15–12:45 p.m. Break
12:45–1:45 p.m. Mastering the Universe: From Microcosm to Macrocosm
Leonardo’s life-long study of nature in all its facets.
2–3 p.m. Leonardo’s Mysteries
Despite Leonardo’s fame, many of his greatest masterpieces, such as The Lady with the Ermine and Mona Lisa, remain full of unanswered questions. This is even truer of paintings that have occasionally surfaced in the art world, whose attribution remains a subject of scholarly debate, such as La Bella Principessa and Salvator Mundi.
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit*
General Information
*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.
