Why Is Leonardo Da Vinci Called The Last Name

Who would have thought that Leonardo da Vinci was considered more than just the painter of the Mona Lisa!? There’s lots to learn about this interesting man. Some may think that “da Vinci” is his last name, but his name is Leonardo “from” Vinci which is a city in Italy. If you are wanting to shorten his name, it is more proper to simply call him Leonardo than “da Vinci” since it’s not his last name.

Although Leonardo is known mostly for his art, he was also an expert engineer and inventor. He was a scrupulous note taker and was always analyzing his findings. He enjoyed teaching and sharing his knowledge which he did at his Milanese academy. Leonardo was quite the peculiar fellow. He was known for being private and writing in code backwards to preserve a level of secrecy in his writing.

He penned many manuscripts which not only detail wings but also mechanical contraptions to serve various purposes. He was especially expert in gears and wheels. Physics were one of Leonardo’s fortes. His painting and drawings of the human body also reveal that he had a fascination in kinesiology also. Leonardo seems to encapsulate the entire Enlightenment era by himself.

This was a period of time in history where there was a religious revival. Leonardo decided to delve into Biblical art. One of his famous paintings was The Last Supper. Although religious paintings weren’t his primary endeavor, it bears witness of his painting expertise that this is still arguably the most popular painting depicting this event in the Savior’s life. As Leonardo grew older and death was eminent, he gravitated more toward his Catholic roots. Although being nearly bedridden he would still get out of bed to partake of the