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Albert Einstein was an extraordinary physicist, but no artist. Pablo Picasso could paint anything, b...
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Albert Einstein was an extraordinary physicist, but no artist. Pablo Picasso could paint anything, but he had no talent for science. Lionel Messi is great at soccer, but nobody talks about his singing ability.
This specialization of talent may seem normal, but it may be a modern phenomenon. In English, we have a term for people with broad knowledge and skills: “Renaissance man (or woman)”. It refers to the European Renaissance, a time when it became common to study a wide range of subjects. This led to complex works of art, invention and philosophy that transformed European culture.
The classic Renaissance man was undoubtedly Leonardo da Vinci, who died 500 years ago. Even today, he is regarded as one of the great creative minds of the Italian Renaissance. “He was hugely influential as an artist and sculptor but also greatly talented as an engineer, scientist and inventor,” says the BBC.
At 14, Da Vinci became an apprentice (学徒) of the popular sculptor and goldsmith Andrea del Verrocchio. Young Leonardo learned how to draw and paint in his workshop, but he was also introduced to chemistry, metallurgy and carpentry. He acquired so many skills that it became natural for him to try new things. The man who would design a flying machine and a military tank set his life course during these early years.
It is interesting to note that his skills as a draftsman (画师) were important in both his artistic and his scientific activities. For instance, he made marvelously detailed drawings of moving water, but not really for artistic reasons. As The Conversation notes, Da Vinci wanted to learn about moving water so he could benefit people. For this purpose, he eventually drew up plans for canals.
Da Vinci was also fascinated by anatomy (解剖学). He dissected (切开) bodies and drew detailed pictures of what he saw. These drawings anticipated the future of scientific medicine.
Apart from his scientific drawings, Da Vinci had a genius for painting lifelike images of people. Even today, this ability stands out in works like the Mona Lisa (1503). With her famous smile, we recognize her as a flesh-and-blood human like ourselves.
The best epitaph (碑文) for Da Vinci may be his own words:”Learning never exhausts the mind.” His numerous projects over 67 years make it clear that his mind was never exhausted. Five centuries after his death, his life and work inspire would-be Renaissance men and women everywhere.
1.“Renaissance man” is mentioned mainly to____.
A.show that people in the past were less talented
B.compare the great minds of the Renaissance
C.introduce Da Vinci as a representative
D.show how Da Vinci created the world
2.What do we know about Da Vinci?
A.He learned anatomy in his childhood.
B.He designed a military tank in his later years.
C.He invented 67 things in his lifetime.
D.His drawings were both artistic and scientific.
3.Which of the following best describes Da Vinci?
A.Hardworking and humorous.
B.Knowledgeable and creative.
C.Imaginative and easygoing.
D.Open-minded and generous.
4.How would the author probably describe Da Vinci’s painting style?
A.Realistic. B.Mysterious. C.Abstract. D.Modern.
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