Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, better known as Leonardo da Vinci, is perhaps one of the most creative people who have ever lived. He was not only a tremendous painter but a polymath, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, engineer, mathematician, inventor, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and anatomist. Leonardo’s love for the fine arts stood at the core of its creative character, a love that helped him create some absolute masterpieces. Over the next few minutes, we’ll remind ourselves of what an amazing artist da Vinci was as we browse through ten of his most famous creations.
10Portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci
Currently owned by the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, the Portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci is the only painting by Leonardo on public view in the Americas. What makes this particular painting stand out is the realism behind it, mainly the lack of any smile on the woman’s face. At the same time, a juniper tree in the background symbolizes chastity while the outdoor setting adds further symbolism because most paintings portraying women were made with an indoor setting.
