What Leonardo da Vinci did. The invention of water skiing

Leonardo da Vinci rightfully occupies one of the first places among the inventors of all ages and peoples. He was able to predict and predetermine the course of many inventions and thought in such a way that it was at odds with the then generally accepted norms and approaches. In this article, you will learn what Leonardo da Vinci invented. We will try to give the entire list of Leonardo's inventions and reveal the principles and essence of his mechanisms as much as possible.

Read also:

• Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci - part 1

Leonardo da Vinci gained fame during his lifetime, but world fame and fame came to him centuries later, when his notes and records were found in the 19th century. His papers contained sketches and sketches of amazing inventions and mechanisms. He divided many of his works into special "codes", and the total volume of his works is about 13 thousand pages. The main obstacle to the implementation of his ideas was the low technological and scientific level era of the Middle Ages. In the 20th century, many of his inventions were repeated, if not in real size, then in the form of mock-ups and reduced copies, although there were often daredevils and enthusiasts who were ready to repeat everything exactly as the great inventor Leonardo da Vinci described.

AIRCRAFTS

Leonardo da Vinci was practically obsessed with dreams of aircraft and the possibility of flight, because no machine is able to cause that quivering admiration and surprise, like a machine that can soar in the air like a bird.

In his notes, one could come across such an idea: “Watch how a fish swims, and you will learn the secret of flight.” Leonardo managed to make an intellectual breakthrough. He realized that water behaves like air, so he gained applied knowledge of how to create lift and showed an extraordinary understanding of the subject, which amazes specialists to this day.

One of the interesting concepts found in the work of a genius is the prototype of a helicopter or propeller-driven vertical aircraft.

Around the sketch there is also a description of the da Vinci propeller (helicon). The coating of the screw was supposed to be iron as thick as a thread. The height should be approximately 5 meters, and the radius of the screw should be about 2 meters. The apparatus was supposed to be set in motion with the help of muscular force. four people.

In the video below, four enthusiastic engineers, a historian and a light aircraft specialist tried to develop the idea of ​​​​Leonardo's helicopter and try to make it fly, although they were allowed to use a number of modern technologies and materials. As a result, it turned out that such a design had a number of serious drawbacks, the main of which was the lack of thrust necessary for flight, so the enthusiasts made significant modifications, but find out from the video whether they succeeded or not.

Leonardo da Vinci plane

The inventor did not sit long with the idea of ​​a helicopter and decided to go further, trying to create a prototype aircraft. Birds are the source of knowledge here.

Below in the picture are drawings of the wings, as well as sketches of a hang glider, which, after being built in our time, turned out to be quite workable.

Although his invention cannot be fully called an airplane, the name of a flywheel or ornithopter is best suited to him, that is, an air apparatus lifted into the air due to the reaction of air with its planes (wings), to which, by means of muscular effort, a flapping movement is transmitted, like in birds

Leonardo carefully began to make calculations and he began with ducks. He measured the length of a duck's wing, after which it turned out that the length of the wing is equal to square root from her weight. Based on these premises, Leonardo decided that in order to lift his flywheel with a person on board (which reached about 136 kilograms), it would be necessary to create bird-like wings 12 meters long.

An interesting fact about the hang glider. In the game Assassin's Creed 2 main character uses a flying machine (hang glider) da Vinci to fly from one side of the city of Venice to the other.

And if you're a fan of the Bruce Willis movies, you might remember that the Hudson Hawk movie mentions a hang glider and da Vinci's parachute. And on a da Vinci hang glider, the main character even flew.

Parachute Leonardo da Vinci

Of course, Leonardo did not invent his parachute in order to escape in the event of an aircraft crash, it was also an aircraft that would allow you to smoothly descend from a great height. Below is a sketch of the parachute, its calculations and design.

The inventor's parachute has the shape of a pyramid, covered with dense fabric. The base of the pyramid was about 7 meters 20 cm long.

Interestingly, it is in Russia that the inventor Kotelnikov will bring to mind the da Vinci parachute, making the first ever backpack parachute that can be mounted on the back of the pilot and used during ejection.

In 2000, the English skydiver Andrian Nicholas decided to test Leonardo's invention in the form in which he invented it, replacing only the material in it, realizing that linen would not withstand such a load. The first attempt was a failure, so he had to use a reserve parachute. True, in 2008, already the Swiss Olivier Tepp managed to achieve success. He abandoned the rigid design of the parachute and jumped from a height of 650 meters. The naturalist claims that the descent itself turned out to be safe, but it is impossible to control such a parachute.

INVENTIONS FROM THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

In the field of architecture and construction, Leonardo also achieved impressive knowledge. He investigated the strength and resistance of materials, discovered a number of fundamental principles, was able to understand how best to move various objects.

Leonardo explored the force that is needed to lift bodies of various masses. To lift a heavy object down an inclined plane, the idea of ​​using a system of screws, winches and capstans was considered.

Crane for lifting long objects

The base of the beam or pole rests on a special platform with a pair of wheels, which is pulled up by a horizontal rope from below. The force that must be applied to pull the horizontal rope always remains constant, and the movement of the column occurs in a straight line.

Leonardo invented a system of wheels and hammers for lifting loads. The operation of the system is similar to the operation of hammer blows during minting, only it all happens on a special gear wheel. Three hammers with a special wedge included between the pins hit the wheel, rotating it and the drum where the load is attached.

Mobile crane and screw hoist

The high crane is shown in the sketch on the right. As you might guess, it was intended for the construction of tall buildings and structures (towers, domes, bell towers, and so on). The crane was placed on a special trolley, which moved along the guide rope, which was stretched over the crane.

The screw lift is shown in the sketch on the left and was intended for the installation of columns and lifting other heavy objects. The design is a huge screw, which is set in motion by the force of four people. It is clear that in this case the height and overall design of such a lift limits the possibilities of its application.

Sketch of a crane on a trolley and a screw hoist

Ring platform crane

This crane is very similar to modern cranes in its functionality and was used by builders at the end of the 14th century. This lift allows you to move heavy objects around you. For his work, it was necessary to involve two workers. The first was on the lower platform and lifted heavy objects with the help of a drum, and the second worker was on the upper platform and rotated the lift around its axis with the help of a steering wheel. Also, the crane had wheels that allowed it to be moved. Such cranes were used in the time of Leonardo for the installation of pillars and columns, the construction of high walls, church domes, roofs of houses and more. Since the cars were wooden, they were usually burned after use.

Excavators by Leonardo da Vinci

Today, hardly anyone can be surprised by an excavator, but few people think about how they were invented. There is a point of view that the prototypes of excavators were used in Ancient Egypt during the construction of canals and deepening of river beds, but a truly conceptual model of an excavator was invented, of course, great Leonardo da Vinci.

Renaissance excavators, of course, were not very automatic and needed manual labor of workers, but they greatly facilitated it, because now it was easier for workers to move the excavated soil. Sketches of excavators give us a rough idea of ​​how huge these machines were at that time. The excavator used the principle of monorail movement, that is, it moved along one rail, while blocking the entire width of the channel, and the booms of its cranes could turn 180 °.

Fortress tower and double spiral staircase

In the picture you can see a sketch of a part of the fortress. To the left of the fortress tower, a sketch of a spiral staircase was made, which is an important component of the tower. The design of the stairs is similar to the well-known screw of Archimedes. If you take a closer look at the stairs, you will notice that it is double and its parts do not intersect, that is, you and your friend can go up or down different spirals of the stairs and not know about each other. Thus, you can go down on one side and go up on the other. without interfering with each other. This is extremely useful property during the war turmoil. Each part, respectively, has its own input and output. There are no steps added in the sketch, but the actual stairs have them.

The staircase, invented by Leonardo, was built after his death in 1519 in France inside the castle of Chambord, which served as a royal residence. There are 77 staircases in Chambord, there are spiral staircases, but only the double spiral staircase, made according to da Vinci's sketches, has become an interesting attraction.

Labyrinth building with many stairs, entrances and exits

Leonardo also thought about more sophisticated architectural concepts from stairs. In this case, this is a real maze! This structure has 4 entrances and 4 staircases that spiral one above the other, wrapping around the central column in the form of a square pillar. Leonardo was excellent at finding harmonic structures, combining geometric features spaces, lines, shapes and materials, resulting in complete self-sufficient buildings.

Sliding (swivel) bridge

Sketch of Leonardo da Vinci's swing bridge

Another bridge, which, unfortunately, remained only a project, is a bridge capable of passing ships sailing along the river. Its main difference from modern bridges, working on the principle of breeding, is the ability to turn like a door. This effect is achieved through a system of capstans, hinges, winches and counterweights, where one end of the bridge is fixed on a special rotating mechanism, and the other end is slightly raised to turn.

Self-supporting ("mobile") bridge

This bridge is the answer to the question: "how can you quickly build a full-fledged crossing from improvised means?" And the answer is extremely beautiful and original.

Sketch of a self-supporting bridge by Leonardo da Vinci

This bridge forms an arch, that is, it is arched, and the assembly itself does not need nails or ropes. The distribution of the load in the bridge structure occurs due to the mutual expansion and pressure of the elements on each other. You can assemble such a bridge anywhere where trees grow, and they grow almost everywhere.

The purpose of the bridge was military and was necessary for the mobile and covert transfer of troops. Leonardo assumed that such a bridge could be built by a small group of soldiers using trees growing nearby. Leonardo himself called his bridge "Reliability".

Suspension bridge

This type of bridge was another example of a mobile collapsible bridge that soldiers could assemble using ropes and winches. Such a bridge was quickly assembled and dismantled after itself during the offensives and retreats of the troops.

As in many other projects by Leonardo da Vinci, the principles of tension, statics and resistance of materials are used here. The device of this bridge is similar to the device of suspension bridges, where, in the same way, the main bearing elements are made of winches and ropes and do not need additional supports.

This bridge, created 500 years ago, could serve as a good military device during the Second World War. Later, engineers of subsequent centuries came to the conclusion that this bridge design was optimal, and the principles used in the suspension bridge are also applied in many modern bridges.

Bridge for the Turkish Sultan

In 1502-1503, Sultan Bayezid II began looking for projects to build a bridge across the Golden Horn Bay. Leonardo offered the Sultan interesting project bridge, which was supposed to build a bridge 240 meters long and 24 meters wide, which at the time looked like something grandiose. It is also interesting to note that another project was proposed by Michelangelo. True, none of the projects managed to be implemented in practice.

500 years have passed and the concept of the bridge became interesting in Norway. In 2001, a small copy of the Da Vinci Bridge was built near Oslo in the small town of As. Architects and builders tried not to deviate from the drawings of the master, but in some places they applied modern materials and technology.

City of the Future by Leonardo da Vinci

In 1484-1485, a plague broke out in Milan, from which about 50 thousand people died. Leonardo da Vinci suggested that the cause of the plague was unsanitary conditions, dirt and overcrowding, so he suggested that Duke Ludovico Sforza build new town devoid of all these problems. Leonardo's project would now remind us of various attempts by science fiction writers to portray a utopian city in which there are no problems, where technology is the solution to everything.

Sketches of the streets of Leonardo da Vinci's ideal city of the future

According to the plan of the great genius, the city consisted of 10 districts, where 30,000 people were supposed to live, while each district and house in it was provided with an individual water supply, and the width of the streets should have been at least equal to the average height of a horse (much later State Council London reported that these proportions are ideal and all streets in London should be brought in accordance with them). At the same time, the city was multi-tiered. The tiers were connected by means of stairs and passages. The uppermost tier was occupied by influential and wealthy representatives of society, while the lower tier of the city remained for merchants and the provision of various kinds of services.

The city could become the greatest achievement of the architectural thought of its time and could realize many of the technical achievements of the great inventor. one should not really think that the city was a continuous mechanism, first of all, Leonardo focused on convenience, practicality and hygiene. Squares and streets were conceived as extremely spacious, which did not correspond to the then medieval ideas.

An important point was the system of water channels connecting the entire city. Through a complex system of hydraulics, water came to every city building. Da Vinci believed that this would help to eliminate the unsanitary lifestyle and reduce the appearance of plague and other diseases to a minimum.

Ludovico Sforza counted this project adventurous and refused to implement it. At the very end of his life, Leonardo tried to present this project to the King of France, Francis I, but the project, unfortunately, did not interest anyone and remained unrealized.

WATER MECHANISMS AND DEVICES

Leonardo created many sketches of water devices, water manipulation devices, various plumbing and fountains, and irrigation machines. Leonardo loved water so much that he did everything that somehow came into contact with water.

Improved Archimedean screw

The ancient Greeks, in the person of Archimedes, invented a device long ago that allows you to raise water due to mechanics, and not manual labor. He invented such a mechanism around 287-222 BC. Leonardo da Vinci perfected the mechanism of Archimedes. He carefully considered the various relationships between the angle of inclination of the axis and the required number of spirals in order to select the optimal parameters. Thanks to improvements, the propeller mechanism began to deliver a larger volume of water with less loss.

In the sketch, the screw is shown on the left. It is a tightly wrapped tube. Water rises through the tube and gets from a special bath upstairs. By turning the handle, the water will flow continuously.

The Archimedes screw is still used today to irrigate farmland, and the principles of the screw underlie many industrial pumping stations and pumps.

Water wheel

Leonardo tried to find the most optimal way to use the power and energy of water with the help of various systems from wheels. He studied fluid dynamics and eventually invented the water wheel, which is shown in the sketch below. Special bowls were made in the wheel, which scooped up water from the lower container and poured it into the upper one.

This wheel was used to clear channels and deepen the bottom. Located on a raft and having four blades, the water wheel was set in motion by hand and collected silt. The silt was laid on a raft, which was fixed between two boats. The wheel also moved along the vertical axis, which made it possible to adjust the depth of scooping of the wheel.

Water wheel with buckets

Leonardo proposed an interesting way to deliver water in the city. For this, a system of buckets and chains was used, on which the buckets were attached. Interestingly, the mechanism did not require a person to operate, since all the work was carried out by the river through the water wheel.

Gate for gateway

The inventor has improved the sluice gate system. Now it was possible to control the amount of water in such a way as to equalize the pressure on both sides of the sluice gates, which made it easier to work with them. For this in big gate Leonardo made a small gate with a deadbolt.

Leonardo also invented a canal with a system of locks, allowing ships to continue navigation even on slopes. The gate system made it possible to control the water level so that ships could pass through the water without difficulty.

breathing apparatus underwater

Leonardo loved the water so much that he came up with instructions for diving, designed and described a diving suit.

According to Leonardo's logic, divers should have participated in anchoring the vessel. Divers in such a suit could breathe with the help of air, which they found in an underwater bell. The suits also had glass masks that allowed them to see underwater. Also, the suit had an improved breathing tube, which was used by divers in more ancient times. The hose is made of reed, and the joints are fastened with waterproof material. The hose itself has a spring insert that allows the hose to increase its strength (after all, there is a lot of water pressure at the bottom), and also makes it more flexible.

In 2002, professional diver Jacques Cozens experimented and made a diving suit according to Leonardo's drawings, made of pigskin and with bamboo tubes, as well as an air dome. Experience has shown that the design is not ideal and the experiment was only partially successful.

invention of flippers

The webbed glove that Leonardo invented would now be called flippers. It allowed to stay afloat and increased the distance a person could swim in the sea.

Five long sticks of wood continued the structure of the human skeleton along the phalanges of the fingers and were interconnected by membranes, like in waterfowl. Modern fins are based on exactly the same principle.

The invention of water skiing

The inventor tried to solve the problem of overcoming a long shallow water by soldiers and came to the conclusion that it was possible to use a skin previously filled with air (leather bags) by attaching this skin to the legs of people.

If the volume of the bag is sufficient, then it will be able to support the weight of a person. Leonardo also suggested using a wooden beam, which had increased buoyancy. Soldiers must take two special processions into their hands. to control balance and move forward.

Leonardo's idea was unsuccessful, but a similar principle formed the basis of water skiing.

Lifebuoy

If you translate the inscription, which is located at the bottom of the picture, you can read "How to save a life in the event of a storm or shipwreck." This simple invention is nothing more than a lifeline that allows a person to stay above the water level and not drown. It was assumed that the circle would be made of light oak bark, which could be found everywhere in the Mediterranean.

wheeled boat

In the Middle Ages, the seas and rivers remained convenient and optimal transport routes. Milan or Florence were vitally dependent on maritime navigation and the availability of fast and safe water transportation.

Leonardo created a sketch of a boat with a paddle wheel. The four blades are similar in shape to the fins of waterfowl. The man twisted the pedals with both feet, thereby rotating the wheel. The principle of reciprocating movements made the wheel spin counterclockwise, so the boat began to move forward.

Boat model Leonardo

In the video below you can see in more detail the device of a boat with wheels:

Leonardo da Vinci was truly a genius. Bright representative type of "universal man", containing all key points era and expressing them in his work, he made a truly enormous contribution to the development of science.

Many of his ideas were brought to life only after a few hundred years. Let's take a look at ten of the most famous concepts created by the great Leonardo.

10 – Mirror writing

Was it a ploy to keep his notes confidential, or simply to avoid smearing the ink, since Leonardo wrote with his left hand? Whatever the reasons, most of Leonardo da Vinci's recordings are made in mirror image.

9 - Scuba

Da Vinci's fascination with the sea resulted in many sketches of devices for studying underwater life. His diving suit was made of leather and attached to a reed tube leading to a bell on the surface. The practicality of the artist is proved by the elaboration of even such details as a container for collecting diver's urine.

8 - Rotating Bridge

This type of bridge, designed by Leonardo da Vinci, could have been useful to the armies of that time. The bridge, consisting of one span, was attached to the shore with a vertical hinge, which allowed it to rotate. Such bridges could be established fairly quickly.

7 - Winged glider

The conquest of the air element interested the genius no less than the conquest of the sea element. Here is one of the gliders designed by Da Vinci. The open cockpit glider was equipped with a control system for the pilot, but was propelled by moving wings.

6 - Three-barreled gun

Despite his generally peaceful disposition, Leonardo also developed military vehicles. For example, more effective guns. This lightweight concept could very well be a fearsome weapon on the battlefield.

5 - Propeller

Modern scientists unanimously argue that this design will not be able to take off. Nevertheless, this idea of ​​Leonardo is still one of the most famous. The structure was supposed to be driven by the force of four people. Unfortunately, in the 15th-16th centuries, the idea of ​​engines did not yet exist.

4 – Ideal City

Seeing Milan engulfed by the plague, Da Vinci dreamed of a more thoughtful and clean city, which would not be ashamed to call home. His architectural sketches are very detailed and even contain a description of the ventilation in the stables. To the disappointment of modern Milanese, there was no stadium in the city.

3 - Self-propelled cart

Of course, this is not a Ferrari, but for that time the idea was simply revolutionary. By the way, a wooden car according to the drawings of Leonardo was built. But this only happened in 2004. The scientists of one of the museums in Florence brought the idea of ​​a genius to life and, to their great surprise, it worked exactly as Da Vinci intended.

2 - Geological time

It is not an easy task to cover in thought such huge periods of time in which significant changes in the landscape can occur. Especially when a ready-made answer to the question is already offered. However, Leonardo da Vinci did not agree with the opinion that the shells on the tops of mountains are the result of global flood. He suggested that the mountains were once the shores of the seas and, over time, rose very slowly up until they became the way we see them. modern science sided with Leonardo.

1 - Vitruvian Man

Following the ancient architect Vitruvius, Leonardo da Vinci described the ideal person. Now this drawing is called canonical proportions. By the way, the Vitruvian Man is one of the most recognizable images in the world.

What became famous for Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian scientist and artist, inventor and scientist, musician and writer, as well as a representative of the art of the Renaissance, you will learn from this article.

Discoveries of Leonardo da Vinci. What made da Vinci famous?

He was a real genius and inventor of his time. But at that time, technological progress was not at the level necessary to realize his outlines. In most cases, they remained on paper, far ahead of their time.

Achievements of Leonardo da Vinci, which went down in history and glorified him:

• Bearing

Historians agree that the first sketch of the bearing was made by da Vinci. After all, many of the devices he invented could not work without this element.

• Parachute

The scientist was fascinated by the thoughts of a flying man and conceived a project for a parachute that helped drift through the air. His parachute had a pyramidal structure and was draped with fabric. In his notes, he mentioned that this device would allow a person who fell from any height to land without damage or injury. His inventions in the 21st century have become more relevant than ever.

• Ornithopter

The Italian genius was inspired by birds: he could spend hours watching them, drawing and thinking about an aircraft that would resemble birds. The result of reflections was the appearance of an ornithopter - a device capable of lifting a person into the air like a bird. The sketch on paper was simply perfect, as it was created taking into account the laws of aerodynamics. It is worth noting that in addition to the parachute and the ornithopter, he also invented a helicopter-like aircraft and a glider.

• Machine gun

In our modern view, the da Vinci machine gun was somewhat different. This weapon was called the "33-barrel organ." And although it could not quickly fire bullets from the barrel, it was easy to stop the advancing infantry. The inventor came up with a fairly simple mechanism for a machine gun: he proposed placing 11 muskets on a rectangular board, after which three such boards were folded into a triangle. Leonardo placed a shaft in the middle that would rotate this structure and fire one set of 11 muskets while the rest were reloading and cooling down. The mechanism could turn over and give another volley.

• Diving suit

It is worth noting that the inventor lived at the end of the 15th century. And already at that time he developed an idea to repel the invasion of ships: men were equipped with diving suits and sent to the bottom of the harbor. They quickly opened the bottom of the ships there, like cans of canned food. Perhaps today this idea is rather banal. But at the time his idea was a sip fresh air. Divers breathed underwater with the help of an underwater bell filled with air, and a mask with special glass holes was put on their faces, through which one could see perfectly underwater.

• armored tank

When he worked for Lodovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, he came up with an armored tank. It was somewhat reminiscent of a turtle, bristling on all sides with 36 guns and a system of gears. It was set in motion by 8 strong men, which were protected by the outer shell of the tank from battles. They could bring the fighting vehicle into the very hot spot fight without fear for your life. Interestingly, in the design of the tank, da Vinci made a mistake: the wheels that set it in motion were spinning in the opposite direction from the rear wheels. Thus, if a car were built, it would not be able to move. Scientists tend to given error not accidental for such a genius as Leonardo da Vinci. He either really did not want the tank to be built, or he was afraid that his personal records would fall into the hands of the enemy and such a maneuver would not allow him to realize his plan.

• self-propelled cart

This invention draws on the role of the first car in history. And even more, the trolley did not have a seat for the driver, which means that it can be considered the first robotic transport.

• Cities of the future

In 1400, a plague was rampant in European cities. And da Vinci suggested that cities are particularly vulnerable to this disease. He developed a plan locality, sanitary and vital. "Ideal City" was divided into levels. Each of them has a minimal level of unsanitary conditions, a wide network of channels for waste disposal and a hydraulic system similar to the modern one.

• robot knight

He created a robot that was used as entertainment in the court of Lodovico Sforza.

In addition to technical inventions, Leonardo da Vinci became famous as an artist. His brushes belong to such famous paintings like: Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Annunciation, Ginevra de Benci, Madonna Benois, Virgin with Flowers, Adoration of the Magi, Cecilia Gallerani with Ermine, Musician, Madonna Litta.

We hope that from this article you have learned what Leonardo da Vinci became famous for.

Certain trends in the art of the High Renaissance were anticipated in the work of outstanding artists of the 15th century and were expressed in the desire for majesty, monumentalization and generalization of the image. However, the true founder of the High Renaissance style was Leonardo da Vinci, a genius whose work marked a grandiose qualitative shift in art. The significance of his comprehensive activity, scientific and artistic, became clear only when the scattered manuscripts of Leonardo were examined. His notes and drawings contain brilliant insights in various fields of science and technology. He was, in the words of Engels, "not only a great painter, but also a great mathematician, mechanic and engineer, to whom the most diverse branches of physics owe important discoveries."

Art for the Italian artist was a means of understanding the world. Many of his sketches serve as illustrations scientific work, and at the same time these products high art. Leonardo embodied new type an artist - a scientist, a thinker, striking in the breadth of views, the versatility of talent. Leonardo was born in the village of Anchiano, near the town of Vinci. He was illegitimate son a notary and a simple peasant woman. He studied in Florence, in the workshop of the sculptor and painter Andrea Verrocchio. One of early work young artist- the figure of an angel in Verrocchio's painting "Baptism" (Florence, Uffizi) - stands out among the frozen characters with subtle spirituality and testifies to the maturity of its creator.

To the number early works Leonardo also includes the Madonna with a Flower kept in the Hermitage (the so-called Benois Madonna, circa 1478), which is decisively different from the numerous Madonnas of the 15th century. Rejecting the genre and meticulous detail inherent in the creations of the masters early renaissance, Leonardo deepens the characteristics, generalizes the forms. The figures of a young mother and baby, finely modeled by side light, fill almost the entire space of the picture. Natural and plastic are the movements of the figures, organically connected with each other. They stand out clearly against the dark background of the wall. The clear blue sky opening through the window connects the figures with nature, with the vast world dominated by man. In the balanced construction of the composition, an internal pattern is felt. But it does not exclude warmth, naive charm, observed in life.

Madonna with the Christ Child and John
Baptist, around 1490, private collection

Savior of the world
around 1500, private collection

In 1480, Leonardo already had his own workshop and received orders. However, his passion for science often distracted him from art. The large altar composition "Adoration of the Magi" (Florence, Uffizi) and "Saint Jerome" (Rome, Vatican Pinakothek) remained unfinished. In the first, the artist sought to transform the complex monumental composition of the altar image into a pyramid-shaped, easily visible group, to convey the depth of human feelings. In the second - to a truthful image of complex angles human body, space landscape. Not finding a proper assessment of his talent at court Lorenzo Medici with his cult of exquisite sophistication, Leonardo entered the service of the Duke of Milan, Lodovico Moro. The Milan period of Leonardo's creativity (1482-1499) turned out to be the most fruitful. Here, the versatility of his talent as a scientist, inventor and artist was revealed in full force.

He began his career with the execution of a sculptural monument - equestrian statue father of Duke Lodovico Moro Francesco Sforza. A large model of the monument, which was unanimously praised by contemporaries, perished during the capture of Milan by the French in 1499. Only drawings survived - sketches various options a monument, an image of a rearing, full of dynamics of a horse, then a solemnly protruding horse, reminiscent of the compositional solutions of Donatello and Verrocchio. Apparently, this last option was translated into a model of the statue. It significantly exceeded the size of the monuments of Gattamelata and Colleoni, which gave contemporaries and Leonardo himself a reason to call the monument "the great colossus." This work allows us to consider Leonardo one of major sculptors that time.

Not a single implemented architectural project of Leonardo has come down to us. And yet, his drawings and building designs, ideas for creating an ideal city speak of his gift as an outstanding architect. The Milanese period includes paintings of a mature style - "Madonna in the Grotto" and "The Last Supper". "Madonna in the Grotto" (1483-1494, Paris, Louvre) - the first monumental altarpiece of the High Renaissance. Her characters Mary, John, Christ and the angel acquired features of grandeur, poetic spirituality and fullness of life expressiveness. United by the mood of thoughtfulness and action - the infant Christ blesses John - into a harmonious pyramidal group, as if chiaroscuro fanned by a light haze, the characters of the gospel legend seem to be the embodiment ideal images peaceful happiness.

(attribution to Carlo Pedretti), 1505,
Museum ancient people Lucania,
Vallio Basilicata, Italy

The most significant of the monumental paintings by Leonardo, The Last Supper, executed in 1495-1497 for the monastery of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan, transfers into the world of real passions and dramatic feelings. Departing from the traditional interpretation of the gospel episode, Leonardo gives an innovative solution to the theme, a composition that deeply reveals human feelings and experiences. Minimizing the depiction of the refectory setting, deliberately reducing the size of the table and pushing it to the fore, he focuses on the dramatic climax of the event, on the contrasting characteristics of people of different temperaments, the manifestation of a complex range of feelings, expressed both in facial expressions and in gestures, with which the apostles respond to Christ's words: "One of you will betray me." A decisive contrast to the apostles are the images of the outwardly calm, but sadly pensive Christ, who is in the center of the composition, and the traitor Judas leaning on the edge of the table, whose rough, predatory profile is immersed in shadow. Confusion, emphasized by the gesture of a hand convulsively clutching a purse, and a gloomy appearance distinguish him from other apostles, on whose illuminated faces one can read an expression of surprise, compassion, indignation. Leonardo does not separate the figure of Judas from the other apostles, as did the masters of the early Renaissance. Yet the repulsive appearance of Judas reveals the idea of ​​betrayal sharper and deeper. All twelve disciples of Christ are located in groups of three, on either side of the teacher. Some of them jump up in excitement from their seats, turning to Christ. The artist subordinates the various internal movements of the apostles to a strict order. The composition of the fresco impresses with its unity, integrity, it is strictly balanced, centric in construction. The monumentalization of images, the scale of the painting contribute to the impression of the deep significance of the image, subordinating the entire large space of the refectory. Leonardo ingeniously solves the problem of synthesis of painting and architecture. Having placed the table parallel to the wall, which is decorated with a fresco, he confirms its plane. The perspective reduction of the side walls depicted in the fresco, as it were, continues the real space of the refectory.

The fresco is badly damaged. Leonardo's experiments with new materials did not stand the test of time, later recordings and restorations almost hid the original, which was cleared only in 1954. But the surviving engravings and preparatory drawings allow you to fill in all the details of the composition.

After the capture of Milan by the French troops, Leonardo left the city. The years of wandering began. By order of the Florentine Republic, he made cardboard for the fresco "Battle of Anghiari", which was supposed to decorate one of the walls of the Council Hall in the Palazzo Vecchio (city government building). When creating this cardboard, Leonardo entered into competition with the young Michelangelo, who executed the commission for the fresco "Battle of Kashin" for another wall in the same room. However, these cardboards, which were universally recognized by their contemporaries, have not survived to this day. Only old copies and engravings allow us to judge the innovation of the geniuses of the High Renaissance in the field of battle painting.

In the full drama and dynamics of Leonardo's composition, an episode of the battle for the banner, a moment is given higher voltage fighting forces, the cruel truth of war is revealed. The creation of the portrait of Mona Lisa (La Gioconda, circa 1504, Paris, Louvre), one of the most famous works of world painting, belongs to the same time. The depth and significance of the created image is extraordinary, in which the features of the individual are combined with great generalization. Leonardo's innovation also manifested itself in the development portrait painting Renaissance.

Plastically worked out, closed in silhouette, the majestic figure of a young woman dominates a distant landscape shrouded in a bluish haze with rocks and water channels winding among them. The complex semi-fantastic landscape subtly harmonizes with the character and intellect of the person being portrayed. It seems that the unsteady variability of life itself is felt in the expression of her face, enlivened by a barely perceptible smile, in her calmly confident, penetrating gaze. The face and well-groomed hands of the patrician are painted with amazing care and softness. The thinnest, as if melting, haze of chiaroscuro (the so-called sfumato), enveloping the figure, softens the contours and shadows; there is not a single sharp stroke or angular contour in the picture.

In the last years of Leonardo's life most devoted time to research. He died in France, where he came at the invitation of the French King Francis I and where he lived for only two years. His art, scientific and theoretical studies, his very personality had a huge impact on the development of world culture. His manuscripts contain countless notes and drawings testifying to the universality of Leonardo's genius. Here are carefully traced flowers, and trees, sketches of unknown weapons, machines and devices. Along with analytically accurate images, there are drawings that are distinguished by their extraordinary scope, epic or subtle lyricism. A passionate admirer of experimental knowledge, Leonardo strove for its critical reflection, for the search for generalizing laws. “Experience is the only source of knowledge,” said the artist. "The Book of Painting" reveals his views as a theoretician of realistic art, for whom painting is both "a science and the legitimate daughter of nature." The treatise contains Leonardo's statements on anatomy, perspective, he is looking for patterns in the construction of a harmonic human figure, writes about the interaction of colors, about reflexes. Among the followers and students of Leonardo, however, there was not a single one approaching the teacher in terms of talent; deprived of an independent view of art, they only externally assimilated his artistic manner.

Self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

Discoveries of Leonardo da Vinci in the field of science and technology- aggregate scientific discoveries and technical inventions made Italian artist, scientist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Leonardo da Vinci offered drawings of a number of mechanisms and inventions. He studied hydraulics, statics and dynamics of bodies, geometry, optics, anatomy, botany, paleontology, military affairs.

Leonardo's influence on the subsequent development of science is a subject of controversy, since it is indicated that his manuscripts were unknown until the publication of J. B. Ventura's work in 1797. Opponents of this view believe that the ideas of Leonardo da Vinci were spread by word of mouth or through his manuscripts. A number of Leonardo's ideas are contained in the writings of Nicolo Tartaglia (1499-1552), Jerome Cardan (1501-1576) and Giovan Battista Benedetti (1530-1590).

inventions

From tens to hundreds of Leonardo's inventions are contained in the form of drawings in his notebooks, may be accompanied by remarks. Drawings are sometimes repeated, modified and improved.

Among the most famous inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, Mario Gliozzi in the book "History of Physics" notes: devices for converting and transmitting motion (in particular, steel chain drives used in bicycles); simple and interlaced belt drives, various clutches (conical, spiral, stepped); roller bearings to reduce friction, double connection (now known as cardan and used in cars); a variety of machine tools: for example, automatic notching machine, gold bullion molding machine, mechanical loom and spinning machine, weaving machines (shearing, knotting, carding); suspension of axles on movable wheels arranged around to reduce friction during rotation - a precursor to ball and roller bearings; a device for testing the resistance of metal threads to stretching; combat vehicles for warfare; new musical instruments; higher definition coin minting machine. During his lifetime, Leonardo received recognition for the wheel lock he invented for a pistol (wound with a key).

Hydraulics and hydrostatics

Leonardo da Vinci was engaged in practical hydraulics, participating in a number of hydraulic works of his time. He took part in the reclamation of Lomellina, the construction of hydraulic structures in Navara, designed the diversion of the channel of the Arno River at the Pisa Bridge, studied the problem of drainage of the Pontic works, and was engaged in hydraulic installations on the Adda and the Martesan Canal.

When carrying out hydraulic engineering work, Leonardo da Vinci made a number of inventions. He designed similar to modern excavators, created mechanical means for digging channels, improved locks to make channels navigable, namely, he introduced a system of shields that controlled the size of the openings for filling and emptying the lock.

In the field of theoretical hydrostatics, Leonardo knew the principle of communicating vessels for liquids of different densities, and also knew the basic principle of hydrostatics, now known as Pascal's law. According to the historian of science Duhem, Pascal learned this law from Leonardo da Vinci through Giovan Batisto Benedetti and Marino Mersenne, with whom Pascal corresponded.

Leonardo became the author of the theory of wave motion on the sea and expressed the idea that wave motion underlies a number of physical phenomena. According to the "History of Physics" by M. Gliozzi, Leonardo expressed the idea that light, sound, color, smell, magnetism spread in waves.

Flight

Leonardo da Vinci was interested in flying for over two decades, from 1490 to 1513. He began by investigating the flight of birds. In 1490, he designed the first model of an aircraft, to which he returned later. This model had fender-like wings bat, and it had to be set in motion by the muscular strength of a person. At present, it is believed that the problem of building an aircraft powered by muscle power is unsolvable, since it is not enough for flight.

Later, Leonardo thought about soaring flight using wind energy.

Leonardo also came up with the idea of ​​a helicopter, the driving element of which should be a fast moving spiral:

A screw apparatus, which, if rotated at high speed, is screwed into the air and rises.

In the Codex Atlanticus, Leonardo apparently gives the most early draft parachute.

Statics and dynamics

Dealing with perspective, in relation to painting, Leonardo moved on to the problems of geometry and mechanics.

Experimental scientific method and its application

As an artist, Leonardo da Vinci was interested in the theory of optics. He gave a description of the camera obscura and used it in the theory of vision. He proposed glasses for observing the Moon, established that the eyes see three-dimensional bodies in different ways, and was engaged in parabolic mirrors. He was the first to suggest that the ashen light of the moon is the light that is first reflected from the earth, and then from the moon. He proposed the first scheme of a telescope with two lenses.

In his anatomical studies, Leonardo da Vinci, summarizing the results of autopsies, laid the foundations of modern scientific illustration, making a number of detailed drawings of various organs, muscles and systems of the human body. Leonardo described the human body as an example of "natural mechanics". He discovered and described a number of bones and nerves, studied the problems of embryology and comparative anatomy.