Vutrivian Man

1 ) What is 'Vutrivian Man' and what is it supposed to represent?

Leonardo studied anatomy by dissecting human corpses and the bodies of animals. He made scientific drawings that clarify not only the appearance of bones, tendons, and other body parts, but also their functions.
Leonardo tried to understand the human body as a mechanism. As his studies progressed, he also tried to understand the forces of life that animated the body. His drawings, for example, extended to investigations of human reproduction and embryology and the circulation of blood. None of these things were understood at the time. His anatomical drawings of a female, which he made about 1508, is his attempt, partly mistaken in detail, to illustrate the body’s circulatory and other systems in a single image.

Like other artists, Leonardo was interested in the proportions of the human body. He drew a famous study of human proportions based on the statement of the Roman architect Vitruvius that the ‘well-shaped man’ fits into the perfect shape of a square and circle.

This drawing by Leonardo da Vinci illustrates the mathematical proportions found in human anatomy. the hexagon framing the Vutrivian Man is more perfectly shown in the Pentagon of Pythagoras, which can be broken into Golden Rectangles.

Reasons for the fame of Leonardo Da Vinci

Not only was Leonardo an artist, he was an architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, and "inventor of genius." He was the prime example of the Renaissance's idea of a "whole and complete person." He especially excelled in science and art, and was always thinking 'outside of the box'. Many of his ideas have been an inspiration for some of our modern technology.

His Interests and Achievements spread into an astonishing variety of fields that are now considered scientific specialties. Leonardo studied anatomy, astronomy, botany, geology, geometry, and optics. He had little interest in literature, history and religion even though many of his pictures were based upon them.
Leonardo used drawings both as a tool of scientific investigation and as an expression of artistic imagination. He was one of the first artists to use sketches to work out his artistic and architectural compositions.


Leonardo was also interested in mechanics (the science of motion and force), and many of his ideas and designs were far ahead of their time. For example, he drew plans for aircraft, including helicopter and parachutes. He produced designs for a variety of war machines, among them tanks, machine guns, and movable bridges.

Andrea del Verrocchio

Andrea di Cione, known as Verrocchio was one of the most successful artists of his (Leonardo da Vinci) day. Verrocchio's workshop was at the centre of the logical currents of Florence.

Leonardo would have been exposed to a huge variety of practical skills and had the opportunity to learn drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, metal working, plaster casting, leather working, mechanics and carpentry as well as the artistic skills of drawing, painting, sculpting and modeling as he was the apprentice of Verrocchio.

Early Life

Leonardo di ser da Vinci "Leonardo, (son) of (Mes)ser Piero
from Da Vinci" was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Florence located in Italy. He is the illegitimate son of Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci who was a young lawyor and Caterina who was a peasant.

After Leonardos birth, Ser Piero was quickly persuaded to marry into a wealthy family while Caterina was married off to a cowherd.

Leonardo was taken to be raised and educated in his father's house by Albiera (Leonardos Step-mother) and her mother-in-law, Monna Lucia who was fifty-nine when Leonardo was born.

Leonardo became interested in drawing & painting at a young age. His father showed Leonardos paintings to a painter, Andrea del Verrocchio. He received training in painting, sculpture, and mechanical arts as an apprentice to Andrea del Verrocchio.
According to Art Historian, Giorgio Vasari, Leonardo assisted in painting Verrocchios's Baptism of Christ. Giorgio claimed that Verrocchio was so affected by his pupil's success that he never wanted to paint again.

Focus Questions

1 ) What is 'Vutrivian Man' and what is it supposed to represent?

2 ) What inspired Leonardo da Vinci to accomplish such great things during the time of Renaissance

3 ) Why did Leonardo write in way that could only be decoded from a mirror?

4 ) Some of Leonardos paintings remain unfinished. Why?