Position:Home>Visual Arts> Leonardo Da Vinci and his teacher Verrocchio?

Verrocchio, although famous already was much like any other Renaissance master artist!. He was a sculpter, goldsmith and painter and would have encouraged Leonardo to draw quick sketches from life, make preparatory drawings for paintings, mix colours, prepare canvases and panels, draw drapery, practice depicting the effects of light and shade on objects and sculpt!. As Leonardo's talent progressed his teacher would have allowed him to paint small portions of paintings that Verrocchio had recieved commissions for!. An example of this type of collaboration is Verrocchio's The Baptism of Christ which has two angels to the left of the scene!. One is thought to have been painted by Leonardo and the other perhaps by Sandro Botticelli!. it is also probable that Leonardo did some modelling for Verrochio as the bronze David which he produced bears a startling similarity to the young Leonardo!. Prior to Leonardo entering Verrocchio's workshop a contract would have been drawn up where the master would agree to feed, clothe, teach and generally look after the pupil!. This arrangement would last for some years until Leonardo became a master in his own right!. Vasari who wrote the biographies on many famous Renaissance artists said that Leonardo surpassed his master in painting although this was typical of Vasari who tended to exaggerate!.

They way that artists reached high and difficult places in order to paint them was to use ladders and scaffolding!. Sometimes they would design these for themselves and sometimes they would employ someone to devise scaffolding for them!.

There's lots of mis-information regarding the painting of the Last Supper!. Vasari states that Leonardo spent much time deciding on how to portray Judas although there is really no definitive text which can provide a certain answer!. What I can tell you is that Leonardo's friend the mathematician, Lucca Pacioli who was present in Milan while Leonardo was painting the Last Supper, said the Leonardo sometimes would paint all day and night without stopping to eat or drink!. On other occasions he would sit for ages just looking at the work in progress then add a brushstroke or two and retire for the day!.

In 1481/2 he acted as a consultant in Florence for the Sala del Gran Consiglio in the Palazzo Vecchio!. In 1503 he made a plan for the Signoria of Florence to re-route the river Arno!. There was also some plans to raise the baptistry on a platform but nothing came to fruition!.

Leonardo and Michelangelo were both commissioned to produce a fresco each for a room in the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence!. Michelangelo was to produce a rendering of the Battle of Cascina and Leonardo a depiction of the Battle of Anghiari!. Neither work was completed!. It would appear also that both artists had a deep dislike of each other so there would have been a great rivalry here!.


That should get you started!.
Hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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