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ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Leonardo da Vinci

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Who Was Leonardo?

You may have heard of Leonardo da Vinci or his works. Tell your partner any facts you already know about him.

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Leonardo da Vinci

  • Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, scientist and inventor who lived in Italy. He was born in 1452 and died in 1519.

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  • This time period in Europe is known as the Renaissance. It was a time when many advances were made in education, science, art, literature and music.

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A Renaissance man

Da Vinci is sometimes called a 'Renaissance Man'. This is because he was a master of many different areas. He was an expert painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, scientist, inventor and writer!�

Leonardo da Vinci is considered by many people to be one of the most intelligent people of all time.

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Leonardo da Vinci’s works

The Mona Lisa may be da Vinci's most famous painting. It is on display in the Louvre Museum in France. Some consider it to be the best known and most visited work of art in the world.

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Leonardo da Vinci’s works

Da Vinci is also famous for his sketches of his inventions. This sketch is of his 'Helical Air Screw', which was a flying machine. It was designed to work in a similar way to modern-day helicopters.

Da Vinci sketched many other designs for inventions, including a diving suit, a machine gun and an armoured chariot.

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Leonardo da Vinci’s works

Anatomy, or the structure of the human body, was another of da Vinci's interests. He wanted to understand how the human body worked, and made thousands of pages of notes and sketches. Scientists today recognise that da Vinci's work was hundreds of years ahead of its time.

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True or false?

Read the following statements about the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci. Two are true and one is false.

  1. Da Vinci was a master in many different areas, including painting, sculpture and engineering.

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  • Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Dinner” is at the Louvre Museum, in France.

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  • Da Vinci lived in Italy.

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True or false?

Read the following statements about the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci. Two are true and one is false. Click on them to reveal the answer.

  1. Da Vinci was a master in many different areas, including painting, sculpture and engineering.

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  • Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Dinner” is at the Louvre Museum, in France.

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  • Da Vinci lived in Italy.

Well done! The second statement is false. In fact it’s Da Vinci’s painting ‘Mona Lisa’ that is at the Louvre Museum.

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KS1

KS2

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Art appreciation

Use the Internet to research three facts about the artist Leonardo da Vinci.

Imagine you are Mona Lisa and you are sitting for the painting. What are you looking at and what are you thinking about as Leonardo is painting the picture?

How do you think Mona Lisa feels in the painting? What expression does she have? Give reasons for your answer.