The Artistic Genius of Leonardo da Vinci – clip

Denise Budd / Columbia University

When considering artistic geniuses in the Italian Renaissance, the individuals who most commonly come to mind are the great triad of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. These three often contentious rivals have been categorized as Universal Men, gifted in many arts and areas of intellectual pursuit. However, it is Leonardo who is most often imagined in this multifaceted way, as artist, scientist, engineer, and musician. This course will discuss Leonardo’s career, examining several of his most canonical works, as well as considering his most ambitious plans that never came to fruition.