Leonardo Da Vinci Gift Ideas

_{Image above: Self-portrait of Leonardo, courtesy Wikipedia}

Leonardo was born April 15, 1452 in the town of Vinci, Italy, near Florence. He was the illegitimate son of the wealthy Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci and a peasant named Caterina. As such, he had no true surname, and the "da Vinci" applied to his name today simply means "Leonardo, (son) of (Mes)ser Piero from Vinci".

Little is known of his early life except that he received an informal education in Latin, geometry and mathematics. In 1466, when he was fourteen, Leonardo became an apprentice to the artist Andrea di Cione, known as Verrocchio. Verrocchio's workshop was one of the finest in Florence at the time and it would have been there that Leonardo learned much about painting technique, drawing and other artistic skills. Legend has it that one of the earliest paintings clearly from Leonardo's hand is the angel to the far left in Verrocchio's "The Baptism of Christ". There is such a striking difference in technique and skill in that beautiful angel's face that, supposedly, Verrocchio "never painted again" after seeing what his apprentice could accomplish.

But Leonardo was far more than a gifted painter and drawer--in fact he left us with very few actually completed paintings that can be attributed to him with certainty. Art was often secondary to his fevered interest in learning more about the world around him, human and animal anatomy, civil engineering and mechanical technology. He dreamed up many great machines and tools, many of which were impractical in his time but predated the later development of more modern technology such as the helicopter, the tank and the parachute. His studies of anatomy in particular are a wonder for a time when dissection of a human corpse was very much taboo, but his drawings today are a marvel to study and would have made a tremendous contribution to medical science if they had been published in his lifetime.

Learn more about Leonardo's life and work at Wikipedia.

There are countless books written on Leonardo da Vinci, trying to decipher his painting techniques, his life, his codices and drawings. What follows are just a few of the best titles written or edited by Martin Kemp, one of the world's leading historians and scholars of Leonardo.

eBay is a great source for Leonardo da Vinci books, including rare titles that may be out of print or otherwise difficult to come by. Here are just a few current listings.

Posters and prints of famous da Vinci works of art, or illustrations from his writings, are great ideas for gift items, too. Matted and framed they can look extremely elegant - and are probably as close as any of us can come to having a work by da Vinci in our own homes or offices!

Forget Spider Man, Batman or Wolverine - Leonardo was a REAL superhero! This Renaissance Man might not have had superpowers, but his curiosity and intelligence drove him to improve mankind's understanding of the world around us. So what could be better than adding a Leonardo da Vinci action figure to your collection of heroes?

T-shirts with da Vinci artwork and illustrations are great for any fan or lover of the artist's work. There are many designs available from simple to full-wrap designs that will really make a statement. Here are just a few examples to show what you can find:

Know someone who loves Leonardo and likes to play board, card and puzzle games? Then here are some products worth checking out.

You can build a da Vinci masterpiece in your own living room with one of these challenging jigsaw puzzles.

Leonardo's inventions and machines are almost as famous as his artistic works. Here, you can build miniature replicas of the famous war machines and devices found in Leonardo's drawings. These are fun learning tools for older children, as well as cool collectibles for adult enthusiasts of da Vinci.

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• The Inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci

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• Leonardo da Vinci Quotes- BrainyQuote

  Enjoy the best Leonardo da Vinci Quotes at BrainyQuote. Quotations by Leonardo da Vinci, Italian Artist, Born April 15, 1452. Share with your friends.

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  Examine da Vinci's work in detail and learn more about his life and work on this detailed website.

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  Leonardo Da Vinci - Homepage. The complete works, large resolution images, ecard, rating, slideshow and more! One of the largest Leonardo Da Vinci resource on the web!

Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” in Milan, Italy

Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” is one of the most recognizable works of religious art in the world. Da Vinci’s interpretation of the subject of Christ and the Apostles has enraptured viewers and art historians for centuries…