“Around the time that he reached the unnerving milestone of turning thirty, Leonardo da Vinci wrote a letter to the ruler of Milan listing the reasons he should be given a job. … In the first ten paragraphs, he touted his engineering skills, including his ability to design bridges, waterways, cannons, armored vehicles, and public buildings. Only in the eleventh paragraph, at the end, did he add that he was also an artist. “Likewise in painting, I can do everything possible,” he wrote.”
The passage above is an excerpt from Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson, a biographical study I’ve recently picked up that offers insight into the Renaissance man’s life and work. I consider Leonardo a role model in many respects; not because of any one particular field he excelled in but for the fact that he was able to masterfully contribute to so many diverse endeavors within his lifetime. It’s remarkable that painting, likely the most common association with Leonardo, was merely a brief footnote in his mind compared to everything else in his repertoire per his letter above. I find it awe-inspiring that he could accomplish so much and I’ve regularly wondered what enabled him to do so. This book offers insights into the inner workings of Leonardo’s mind and the external influences surrounding him in order to show how others can incorporate the valuable insights from his life into their own.
As I read every couple of chapters from this book, I’ll provide a high level synopsis of the information I gather and attempt to distill both the main takeaways and possible recommendations for how to act upon them. My hope is that this will allow myself and others to actively use the lessons from Walter Isaacson’s in-depth analysis to better improve our own lives.
Part I will be focused on the first two chapters of the book which are titled Childhood and Apprentice.
Chapter I: Childhood
- Summary: Leonardo had a variety of circumstances in his childhood, many of which could have been seen in a negative light at the time, that shaped who he was and fostered his creative and imaginative spirit. He was an illegitimate child of his father – who was a notary and came from a proud lineage of notaries. Fortunately, he lived in a place and time where bastards were not publicly shamed as they once were. Also by not being a legitimate son, Leonardo did not have societal pressure to follow in the footsteps of his father’s profession and could pursue what he wished. Furthermore, he did not receive much formal education (again as a result of being an illegitimate son) which allowed his mind to be free from the common orthodoxies of the time period and instead became a “disciple of experience.” Leonardo as a child also displayed an insatiable curiosity and sense of wonder for the world by vividly observing and imagining the natural countryside of his hometown of Vinci. This curiosity and observation would remain throughout his life and greatly influence his creative work.
- Recommendations/Reflections: Consider the influences, events, and circumstances in your own life and see how they have positively shaped who you are today. Do not however, fall in to the trap of seeing the negative of your situation; Leonardo had many things about him which could have been seen as an obstacle or hindrance in his time (he was illegitimate, not formally educated, left handed, easily bored and distracted, and more) but instead are seen as a positive. Doing an inventory of the experiences that shaped who you are can provide greater appreciation and understanding for one’s own situation and life direction. As a brief example in my own life, a childhood experience that has influenced me includes:
- Growing up in a military family resulted in many moves in my childhood both in the US and abroad. These travel experiences as a kid have given me a better appreciation for both the differences and similarities found in all of humanity. I truly believe everyone is connected and that there is no clear right or wrong – just different perspectives. I feel this has enabled me to better connect and relate with people of nearly any background in some capacity.
Chapter II: Apprentice
- Summary: Leonardo took inspiration and knowledge from many things around him – both directly and indirectly. A direct example includes: being an apprentice to the Florentine artist Verrocchio, whose workshop regularly provided a creative atmosphere filled with artists and merchants working their craft. Indirectly, Leonardo took inspiration by virtue of living in Florence, a vibrant city that was a hub of innovation, science, arts, and commerce. It was through this broad reaching exposure that Leonardo could play with various ideas and theories across a range of disciplines and find ways to combine them which fed his curiosity.
- Recommendations/Reflections: Leonardo not only had a variety of external experiences surrounding him as sources of inspiration, he was also very open to receiving such inspiration internally. Both needed to happen to have the level of impact in ended up having on his life and work. It is important to intentionally design your life where you can be an apprentice of sorts. This can include directly finding a mentor who can guide and teach you in a certain area of life or acquiring relevant knowledge via books, online, or other mediums. Also consider the impact that one’s living environment plays in regards to inspiring ideas and experiences. Consider the culture, people, and atmosphere that any given location can offer to you. You may not know what exactly can be gained by being in a creative location, but immersing yourself wherever you are gives you a chance to potentially experience something impactful. Lastly, remember to be receptive to your surroundings and experiences – this will allow you to see opportunities that others may easily miss.