The way of thinking in our modern times has been highly influenced by artworks made by those of the past. One of the most noteworthy polymaths that have contributed so much to science, art, and architecture is Leonardo Da Vinci. Numerous projects and artworks are done by Da Vinci provide modern philosophical, architectural, and technological potential. Da Vinci’s work explored what historians called the Renaissance. It was essentially a revival of classical ideas of the Greco-Roman Period. This reform involved ideas, forms, ordnance, and humanism. He was an embodiment of the Renaissance and also an inspiration for our society as well. The very ideas that Da Vinci emphasized in his paintings and sketches bring us towards the future and relate to how our modern world works. He was part of a movement that recreated ancient ideas about the world which is a staple for any modern society in the world. By analyzing various pieces of artwork done by Leonardo Da Vinci, one can understand the major impact he has had in our current civilization. We are impacted by his need to find new solutions to modern problems and creative thinking.

 The most renowned artwork done by Leonardo Da Vinci is the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa is a painting of a woman who mysteriously makes eye contact with her audience trying to discover something about the human world. Her stare is peculiar yet understanding. One might not understand why her facial expression is so puzzling, but the painting opens up one’s mind to critical analysis. The audience begins to look for a solution to the confound expression on her face. All that is provided is an eerie landscape that isn’t identifiable. The painting in itself is an enigma. She is meant to spark our interest in discovering the truth behind her smile. In addition, to its idea, it is created using modern painting techniques in his time. The way she is positioned and the way she is painted were all relatively new to the Renaissance. In society today the Mona Lisa’s impact is quite large. Whether it be the idea of renovation or renewed ideas in society or the development of analytical minds in the world, her impact has changed a lot. According to the article,  Da Vinci’s Impact Upon The Art World by leonartodavinci.weebly.com, the Mona Lisa, “symbolizes all of Da Vinci’s art and the revolution that he brought about through it. It symbolizes a change in styles and the development of the arts in general. It symbolizes timeless works of art that still remain treasures and pieces of history that have maintained themselves through the harsh winds of time.” The Mona Lisa is a very influential piece of Da Vinci’s collection.

Another art piece that Da Vinci is notorious for creating as well as affecting our society is The Last Supper. Even though this painting is somewhat religious it has a very interesting process of fabrication and composition. The painting tells the story of Jesus and his twelve apostles who are celebrating Passover. Da Vinci used innovative techniques to express the religious ideas behind the painting. According to visual-arts-cork.com, “Instead of relying exclusively on artistic conventions, he would use ordinary ‘models’ whom he encountered on the street, as well as gestures derived from the sign language used by deaf-mutes, and oratorical gestures employed by public speakers.” In today’s society innovative technologies and design involve the movement of people. For example, architects study circulation diagrams and traffic patterns to understand the current site conditions of a given location. After they gather their analysis they could design according to the ideas derived from the environment around their space. This idea of abstraction of real figures to express through from is very prominent in modern contemporary architecture. The Last Supper shares the same process of extraction of real models.

Our modern world is heavily dominated by technology. Without it our society would not be the same. The various systems that are embedded into our everyday lives can not be undone and should not be undone. These programs correlate to human interaction and purpose with the technology. For example, cars were created for human use. Da Vinci expressed similar ideas when he created The Vitruvian Man. This masterpiece was meant to reveal the mathematical proportions of the human body, essentially emphasizing the geometrical properties that we as people contain in ourselves. Humans are the perfect model created by the universe to affect the rest of design as a whole. In fact, most technologies are influenced by the human body’s various systems, since our body is a machine. According to leonardodavinci.net, “these qualities are thus shared equally by God’s creation of the human body and the human being’s own production of a good building. In the late 1480s, this theme of the artistic microcosm emerged as one of the great unifying principles of his thought. This architectural application is not the end of the matter, however; it only represents the beginning of a concept which had a literally universal application.” This idea connects all the way back to Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. 

The last set of drawings consists of object dimension and physicality. They are a set of observational and innovative designs and studies. These types of drawings are what help architects and doctors understand space, form, and systematics. These include the aerial screw,  the pen and ink study of a human fetus, a screw cutting machine, a renaissance version of a machine gun, and a skeleton foot. This set of drawings is what modern designers refer to when crafting a set of drawings for buildings, product design, and anatomy. Not only did his drawings benefit illustration but as scientific discovery. People were able to learn about anatomy during the Renaissance because of Da Vinci’s dissections and diagrams. Art and science would not be the same without this study of objects. His inventions also inspired modern technology like the helicopter and the calculator.   To conclude, Da Vinci’s contributions to humanity have left an influence on design and science throughout the ages. By analyzing various of his artworks, one can better understand their influence on our modern world and how they opened our minds to critical analysis. The various examples were chosen for examination clearly show the elements found in Renaissance art and how they are present in today’s time. The High Renaissance ideals can still be used today in modern art and should be studied continuously moving on into the future.

Works Cited

“Art Impact.” Leonardo Da Vinci, https://leonartodavinci.weebly.com/art-impact.html. 

“The Last Supper (1495-8).” Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci: Meaning, Interpretation, http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/last-supper-leonardo-davinci.htm. 

The Vitruvian Man – by Leonardo Da Vinci, https://www.leonardodavinci.net/the-vitruvian-man.jsp.