Mona Van Duyn

Leonardo da Vinci: A True Renaissance Man and Game-Changer The Renaissance was “the revival of European art and literature, under the influence of classical models during the 14th through 16th centuries,” during which, the ultimate goal of a person was to excel in all aspects of life. Dubbed a “true Renaissance Man” as he experimented and flourished in diverse areas, Leonardo da Vinci, was a sculptor, artist, engineer, scientist, architect and much more. Master of realism and perspective, da…

junior year, I researched average temperatures, what stores were in walking distance of famous monuments, and how many crêpes I could buy without maxing out my credit card (exactly 14.7 per day if I bought nothing else). I couldn’t wait to see the Mona Lisa…

In light of John Searle’s claim that the Background plays an important role in determining the content of a visual perception, two people can view the same Mona Lisa painting and have non-identical visual experiences. Even if they have equal mental and physical functions, are equally distanced from the painting, and are standing in the same angle in respect to the painting, the visual experience for two people is unique to each individual because the ability to interpret and generate meaning…

Defying prejudices, Leonardo da Vinci became one of the most well-known Renaissance artists of his time. Social prejudice was a big factor in the life of Leonardo. He was born an illegitimate child, and was also deemed to be gay. At the time though, his society forbade such a sexuality, so he endured many hardships. Leonardo da Vinci was said to be one of the greatest medical artists in history. He conducted numerous amounts of human anatomy studies. In doing so, he confessed to dissecting over…

“received no formal education beyond basic reading, writing, and math” (Leonardo da Vinci). At the early age of fifteen, Leonardo da Vinci worked as an apprentice for his father. He created perhaps two of the most well-known pieces of art work there are “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper”. In the year 1516 Da Vinci left Italy for France to live in a house promised by Francis I, French ruler of the time, where he was free to do any art that he please. Three short years later he would pass away and…

on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, mathematician, inventor, and writer. He was a leading artist and intellectual of the Italian Renaissance who 's known for his famous works around the world, "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa." Da Vinci is credited for the technique of Sfumato, which is the softening of colors and edges…

Mon Premier Jour en France There I was, lost at the Notre Dame. Not having a clue where everyone else was. You’re probably wondering how I got in this situation. Let me start from the beginning. Ever since I was in sixth grade, I had been told that my French class would one day go to France on a trip. After years of waiting, the day had finally arrived. I was leaving for France! Our flight left at 4pm out of JFK and had a layover in Amsterdam which took about 8 hours. When we landed…

What makes Mona Lisa smile famous and what are the hidden secret behind its smile? Leonardo Da Vinci was born in April 15 1452, in Vinci, Italy .greatest of the “renaissance man” possessor of the curious mind and keep intellect, he studied law of science nature, which greatly informed his work as a painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, military engineer and draftsman. His ideas and body of work—which includes "Virgin of the Rocks," "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa"—have influenced countless…

The term Renaissance literally means “rebirth” or “renewal” and that’s exactly what took place during the Renaissance period. The Renaissance period was a rebirth of the classical period (Greek and Roman culture) that placed human beings in the center of life’s stage and infused humanistic values. The Renaissance has been considered to begin in Italy in the fourteenth century, with master artist such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Renaissance art sought to capture the…

upper body and hands of a woman. She is very plainly dressed. For a portrait, a woman would usually put on her best clothes and jewelry. The unusual thing about this picture is the smile. Mona is short for Madonna which means My Lady. The reason why the painting is so famous is that it seems to be full of mystery. Mona Lisa's eyes look out at the viewer. But no-one can guess what she is thinking. Her eyes and her mouth seem to be smiling. This is very unusual in a portrait painting. The soft…