The Bust of Leonardo da Vinci

LEonardo da vinci

PERSONAGE

LEONARDO DA VINCI

Born in Vinci, Florence, on April 15, 1452, and died at the castle of Cloux, or Clos-Lucé near Amboise, on May 2, 1519, Leonardo was much more than a painter, architect, and scientist. He was the vivid symbol of the Renaissance genius who transformed the figurative arts and left an indelible mark on the history of thought and science. The illegitimate son of notary Ser Piero di Vinci, his lineage is now forgotten. From 1469, he settled in Florence, and by 1472, he was already a member of the Company of Painters. Between 1482 and 1483, he lived in Milan at the court of Ludovico il Moro, where he not only excelled as a painter but also engaged in intense activity as a military engineer and set designer. Subsequently, he traveled among the courts of various patrons throughout Italy. His eclectic mind shone in multiple fields, ranging from painting to anatomy, from astronomy to literature, always revealing new facets of his extraordinary creative genius.

THE MONA LISA

Also known as the Mona Lisa, the Gioconda continues to exert a timeless fascination on humanity. Painted on a poplar wood panel with oil, this masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci resides in the heart of the Louvre Museum in Paris. It is a tangible testament to the unparalleled skill of the master and his ability to capture the essence of the human soul on canvas. The enigmatic smile of the Gioconda has become legendary, inspiring thousands of pages of criticism, literature, and psychoanalytic study. Every day, around thirty thousand visitors crowd into the large hall of the Louvre to cast an admiring glance at this icon of art. The painting has attained an almost divine status, so much so that a cord must be diligently placed to maintain a respectful distance between the viewers and the artwork itself. The Gioconda thus continues to represent not only Leonardo's artistic genius but also an enduring symbol of beauty and mystery.

"When you walk on the earth after flying, you will look to the sky because there you have been and there you will want to return”.

His pioneering studies on bird flight and the concept of "instrumental flight" led him to explore the fundamental laws of aerodynamics. Through careful observations, Leonardo da Vinci analyzed the compressibility and weight of air, understanding the crucial importance of these elements for flight sustenance, especially for objects heavier than air. His visionary ideas materialized in designs for flying machines, which, while primarily of historical interest today, remain extraordinary examples of engineering genius. Among these incredible inventions stand out the parachute and the helicopter, both conceived with the innovative use of the screw as a propulsion mechanism. Leonardo, with his forward-thinking mind, thus anticipated technological solutions that would be appreciated and developed centuries after his time, demonstrating a vision of the future that far surpassed his era.

CURIOSITY

Leonardo's law

His pioneering efforts in hydraulic engineering led Leonardo to delve into the study of water motion. In addition to intuiting the fundamental principles of hydrostatics, he formulated the concept of constant flow for the movement of flowing waters. According to this principle, in a uniform watercourse with a variable section, the velocity of the current varies inversely with the section. These discoveries not only demonstrate his extraordinary understanding of hydraulic phenomena but also his ability to apply complex scientific principles to solve practical problems in civil engineering.

The handwriting

Leonardo da Vinci was known for his unique and peculiar writing style: he often wrote in mirror writing, from right to left, and sometimes began writing from the last page before proceeding to the first. This unusual writing style has elicited various interpretations over the centuries. Some saw it as an attempt to conceal his thoughts and inventions, making them more difficult to decipher. However, it is unlikely that Leonardo adopted this practice to hide his secrets, considering the complexity of the codes he was able to create. More likely, this way of writing simply reflected Leonardo's creative and visionary nature. Although capable of writing conventionally when necessary, as demonstrated by his topographical maps, he preferred to express himself through his unique and personal style. It is not surprising, therefore, that he delegated the writing of his more formal letters and missives to others, allowing him to focus on his inventions and research without being constrained by the traditional form of writing.

Who brought the Mona Lisa to France?

The story of the Mona Lisa is shrouded in a veil of mystery and fascinating adventures. While the most common belief is that the painting was stolen by Napoleon's forces and taken to France, the truth is even more astonishing. It was Leonardo da Vinci himself who brought the Mona Lisa with him and sold it to King Francis I for a significant sum: 4,000 gold scudi, equivalent to two years' salary for the Renaissance genius. However, the story of the Mona Lisa does not end there. In 1911, the painting was the subject of a daring theft. Vincenzo Peruggia, a former employee of the Louvre of Italian descent, managed to steal the painting from the museum and brought it back to Italy. Two years later, Peruggia was arrested while attempting to sell the work on the black market in Florence. Fortunately, the Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre, where it continues to shine and attract millions of visitors each year. This tumultuous and captivating saga has helped make the Mona Lisa not only an icon of art but also a legend steeped in adventure and plot twists.

BUSTS

Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation

Established in the 1990s in Florence through the vision of an enlightened entrepreneur, its primary goal is to facilitate meetings and cultural exchanges among young people from different cultures and countries. The Foundation's motto, "For peace in the world, among young people from different countries, through Culture, meeting, knowing each other, understanding each other to develop friendship among peoples," reflects its commitment to promoting intercultural understanding and friendship between nations. The Foundation actively promotes respect for the diversity of cultural expressions and works to develop friendships between peoples through a series of international initiatives. These meetings preferably take place in cultural venues or heritage sites, highlighting the importance of culture in building bridges between communities. The Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation operates on a non-profit basis, dedicating itself to the promotion and implementation of projects, research, publications, awards, and scholarships that promote dialogue between cultures. Its commitment to the "Heritage for Dialogue between Cultures" is reflected in its activities and programs, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive world through culture and education.

Leonardo's bust donations

During its activity, the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation® has donated to 10 universities and cultural institutions around the world a white carrara marble bust depicting Leonardo da Vinci "creator of the imaginable" to enlighten young minds in their formative path in the name of creativity, ingenuity and absolute genius.

Leonardo busts in the world

Through the generous donation of busts crafted from exquisite white Carrara marble, the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation has strengthened friendships and collaboration with numerous Italian and international institutions, celebrating the value of Italian art and identifying representative figures of world heritage. The bust dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci is exhibited in various prestigious locations worldwide, including the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay, USA, the State Academy of Arts in Tbilisi, Georgia, the University of Architecture and Construction in Baku, Azerbaijan, the National University of Architecture and Construction in Yerevan, Armenia, the Auditorium al Duomo in Florence, Italy, and the leading Academy for Architecture and Construction Training in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

WORK

The bust and its author

Dino De Ranieri, a descendant of the renowned family of artists, shares his perspective on the art of portraiture, considering Figurative Portraiture to be a greatly undervalued form of creative expression. For De Ranieri, only an artist who masters the artistic techniques can breathe life into a portrait, akin to Leonardo Da Vinci's, capturing the depth and intensity of the artist's observation and thought. His sculpture "Leonardo da Vinci - Creator of the Imaginary," crafted from exquisite white Carrara marble sourced from the Michelangelo Quarry in the Apuan Alps of Tuscany, represents a sublime fusion of artistic mastery and raw material. With a bust weighing approximately 250 kg and dimensions of roughly 85x55x40 cm, De Ranieri's work embodies the greatness and ingenuity of the Renaissance artist, exuding an aura of timeless charm across time and space.