Leonardo Da Vinci & Michelangelo Buonarotti

   Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarotti are the two most famous and influential artists of the Italian Renaissance. Da Vinci and Michelangelo are similar in the fact that they have similar style of artwork. The human body and its beauty really inspired them both, whether it was through painting portraits or creating sculptures, the human body was always represented. Even though they shared similar styles and were native Italians, they were known for vastly different things and were brought up in essentially different worlds so to speak. Who is the greatest artist of all time? That is where the controversy comes in.

      Leonardo da Vinci began apprenticing at the age of fourteen under the artist, Verrocchio. For six years he learned more than just how to draw and paint, but also how to create sculptures, metalworking, carpentry, and a wide variety of technical skills. He was known as a true renaissance man, an inventor not solely an artist. Two of his most famous works of art are his paintings of The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Both paintings are very romantic, and soft yet dramatic and intricate at the same time. Mona Lisa’s expression is very serious in the upper half of her face but she has a smirk or more of a sweet smile making the portrait soft. The texture of the portrait is dramatic due to the darker, blander colors. Some say that Mona Lisa’s eyes follow you as you walk by; no matter where you’re standing she’s staring at you. The Last Supper on the other hand, is a religious piece. It is a huge mural measuring roughly 15 by 29 feet. It represents the Christian/Catholic bible story, John 13:21, of Jesus and his twelve disciples the evening before Jesus Christ were crucified on the cross. The scene shows the reactions of Jesus’ disciples when Jesus told them that one would betray him. Interestingly, Jesus is isolated in the center and positioned so where the window light is glowing around him. Over time the painting has aged, fading the vibrant colors, giving The Last Supper a more rustic look. 

      Michelangelo on the other hand, was more famous for his breathtaking sculptures but made gorgeous paintings as well. By the age of thirteen, Michelangelo was apprenticed by Florentine. Two of his most famous works is the sculpture of, David and the paintings are his work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City one part in particular called The Creation of Adam. The similarities that these two pieces have with DaVinci’s paintings are that they are both of the human body and have a religious meaning behind them. The Last Supper, which is Jesus and his Disciples, David inspired by the heroic bible legend of David and Goliath, and The Creation of Adam in the story of how God created the first man.

Artwork 1: The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. Circa 1511-1512. Sistine Chapel ceiling. History Painting. Italian Renaissance

Artwork 2: The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. Circa 1503-1517. The Louvre museum. Painting. Italian Renaissance

Artwork 3: The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. Circa 1495-1498. Santa Maria della Grazie. Painting. Italian Renaissance 

Artwork 4: David by Michelangelo. Circa 1501-1504. Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze. Sculpture, Carrara Marble. Italian Renaissance.