What words could be used to describe Leonardo da Vinci? Painter, inventor, sculptor, engineer? Inventor, musician, writer, geologist? Mathematician, astronomer, architect, botanist? All of these and more. The brilliant Italian was the epitome of the Renaissance ideal, and is considered by many to be one of the greatest geniuses of history. Born in Vinci in…
Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, who is better known as Sandro Botticelli, was born in 1445 in Florence, Italy during the Italian Renaissance. Sandro’s older brother Giovanni, who was nicknamed Botticello, is credited with giving Sandro the nickname Botticelli, which means “Little Barrel.” Botticelli initially started training as a goldsmith under the guidance of…
Donato di Niccolo was born around the year 1386 and lived until December 13, 1466. He lived and worked in Florence, Italy and became widely known for his sculptures during the Renaissance. You and I know him as simply Donatello. The son of Niccolo di Betto Bardi, Donatello was recognized early on as the son…
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, who would become known to later generations as simply “Michelangelo,” was born in Caprese, Italy, on March 6, 1475. When he was still a baby, his family moved back to Florence, where his father was originally from. This move would influence Michelangelo’s interests and aspirations for the rest of his…