The Life and Times of Leonardo da Vinci Online Quiz | People

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1. The name "Leonardo da Vinci" refers to the fact that Leonardo was born in the town of Vinci. In which part of Italy would one find Vinci?

Answer: Tuscany

Vinci lies in the Arno river valley, in territory then controlled by the Republic of Florence and the Medici family. He was the illegitimate son Caterina, a peasant, and Piero da Vinci, a Florentine notary. Leonardo was actually born in a farmhouse, about two miles outside of the town, in 1452.

2. As a young man, Leonardo was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio to become an artist. Once he completed his training, he was, at the age of 20 able to become a master in the Guild of Saint Luke for artists. Which other unlikely profession was a part of the guild?

Answer: Doctors

As I understand it, Luke (described as the "beloved physician" in the New Testament) is said to have painted a portrait of the Virgin Mary. Branches of this guild existed throughout Western Europe. Art dealers were also sometimes considered part of the guild.

3. One of Leonardo's earliest works is the "Annunciation" (c. 1472-1475), which features the Virgin Mary. Who is in this painting with her?

Answer: Gabriel

The painting is based on a passage in the Gospel of Luke (1:26-39) where the Angel Gabriel visits Mary and tells her she will give birth to Jesus. This was a popular topic for art in the Renaissance and many other painters have also covered this topic. It is thought to have been a collaboration between Leonardo and his master, Andrea del Verrocchio.

4. One of Leonardo's best known works was "The Last Supper". Where can the original painting be seen today?

Answer: The Convent of Santa Maria

Leonardo worked on the painting on and off from about 1495-1498. The painting is in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. Because of being painted on an exterior wall in part, protectors of the painting have had to fight a constant battle with decay. One way that Leonardo's "Last Supper" is different from "Last Supper" paintings by previous artists is that Judas is placed on the same side of the table as the other apostles, rather than isolated on a different side.

5. One of Leonardo's most studied works of art is the "Mona Lisa". Putting Dan Brown's theories aside, who is most probably the model for the "Mona Lisa"?

Answer: A merchant's wife

Lisa del Giocondo (c. 1479-1542/51) was the wife of a cloth and silk merchant. Leonardo probably did most of his work on this portrait between 1503 and 1506, when Lisa was in her 20s. The painting is currently in Louvre in Paris where I had an opportunity once to see it in person--well, relatively speaking. Based on my experience there is always a huge crowd around the "Mona Lisa" so I was not able to get closer than 50 feet or so to the painting which is only about 30 inches by 21 inches. Consequently, just about any other painting in the chamber that holds the "Mona Lisa" was relatively unattended--including David's "Coronation of Napoleon", which I honestly spent more time studying.

6. There are two versions of Leonardo's painting, "Virgin (or Madonna) of the Rocks". One feature that is common are the four individuals in the painting. Who is NOT included?

Answer: Elizabeth

The earlier version, painted in the 1480s, is in the Louvre, in Paris. The later version, painted about 1495-1508, is in the National Gallery in London. Along with Mary, an angel, Jesus, and John are all present in the picture. John adoring Mary and Jesus is a common theme in Renaissance art.

7. One of Leonardo's best known drawings in the "Vitruvian Man". How many arms and legs does Leonardo include in this drawing?

Answer: Four arms and four legs

The Roman architect Vitruvius described the ideal proportions of the human body. Leonardo in the text accompanying the drawing describes the ideal proportions of the human body, based on the writings of Vitruvius. In the drawing, the man has his legs directly underneath his torso and then redrawn slightly angled out. Similarly, his arms are drawn perpendicular to his torso and then again slightly elevated. Leonardo undertook a lengthy study of anatomy to achieve greater realism in his art, including the dissection of human corpses.

8. In 1502, Leonardo was able to secure employment with Cesare Borgia as a military architect and engineer. Which product did he show Cesare in order to gain employment?

Answer: A map

Specifically, he showed him a very accurate map of the town of Imola that he had drawn. At this time cartography was not very common and maps were usually not very accurate. Studies of his paintings suggest that working on maps helped him to be more accurate in the backgrounds of his paintings.

9. Leonardo drew plans for many fantastic inventions. Many of them were not actually built--at least in his lifetime. Which one his ideas would actually be carried through to fruition in his lifetime?

Answer: An automated bobbin winder

A common use for a bobbin was to hold thread or yarn used in spinning or weaving. Though there are drawings and plans of the other objects, they seem to have not been actually produced in the vicinity of his lifetime. In some cases, the necessary materials may not have been available. In other cases, Leonardo's plans may have been somewhat impractical.

10. In his old age, Leonardo left Italy. In whose patronage did Leonardo spend the last few years of his life?

Answer: Francis I

Francis I, known as a patron of the arts, ruled as king of France from 1515-1547. Leonardo received a house near the king's residence and a comfortable pension. While under Francis's patronage, Leonardo created a mechanical lion. Legend says that Francis held Leonardo in his arms as he died in 1519.

Source: Author bernie73

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Life and Times of Leonardo da Vinci Quiz

This quiz looks at some of the interesting facts surrounding the life of Leonardo da Vinci.

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