LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page i Leonardo da Vinci for Kids LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page ii i c n i f o r V a d o d r a n o e L LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page iii H I S L I F E A N D I D E A S 2 1 A C T I V I T I E S K i d s J a n i s H e r b e r t LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page iv © 1998 by Janis Herbert Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data All rights reserved Herbert, Janis, 1956– Leonardo da Vinci for kids : his life and ideas : 21 activities / Janis Herbert. — 1st ed. First edition p. cm. Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated Includes bibliographical references. Summary : Presents a biography of this prolific artist and 814 N. Franklin Street inventor through projects in cartography, animal art, bird obser- Chicago, Illinois 60610 vation, and mask making. 1. Leonardo, da Vinci, 1452–1519—Juvenile literature. 2. Artists—Italy—Biography—Juvenile literature. 3. Creative ISBN 978-1-55652-298-7 activities and seat work—Juvenile literature. [1. Leonardo, da Vinci, 1452-1519. 2. Artists. 3. Handicraft.] I. Title. 10 9 8 7 6 N6923.L33H47 1998 709’.2-dc21 Cover design: Sean O’Neill [b] 98-25690 CIP Cover art courtesy of Wood River Gallery AC Interior design: Joan Sommers Design Printed in Singapore by CS Graphics LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page v To Jeff v LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page vi CONTENTS Acknowledgments viii Note to Readers ix Timeline x A Boy in Vinci ONE 1 Setting Up Your Studio 2 Observing Nature 3 Brush Up on Birds 4 The Young Apprentice TWO 7 ABeaker for Brushes 8 Framed! 10 ALife Mask 13 Kitchen Clay 15 Perspective 16 The Renaissance 18 Animal Art 20 Well-Bannered 25 Pinpointing the Vanishing Point 27 LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page vii A Genius at Work THREE 29 AParachute Kite 55 Leonardo’s Letter to Ludovico 30 Restoring The Last Supper 58 Leonardo’s Lute 31 Missiles and Math 60 Mirror Writing 32 ADiscovery Notebook 33 “I Shall Continue.” FOUR 61 Measuring Up 35 The Nature of Sound 63 The Plague 38 Art Detectives 64 AMasque of the Planets 40 The Craft of Cartography 65 Leonardo’s Prophecies 41 How Tall Is That Tree? 66 Eye Exercises 42 Simple Machines 68 Leonardo’s Inventions 43 Who Was Mona Lisa? 70 Italy’s Kingdoms and City-States 44 Looking at Art 72 Leonardo’s Lunch 46 ARenaissance Herb Garden 77 For the Birds 47 Salai’s Aniseed Sweets 49 Glossary 80 Mental Exercise 50 Biographies 82 Leonardo’s Lock 51 Resources 85 Left:Diagram of Learn a Little Italian 52 Bibliography 87 human proportions, Flight 54 Credits 88 Leonardo da Vinci, 1492 vii LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to Rick Dissen and Andreas Mueller for their contributions to this work and to Sara Dickinson and Camillo Imbimbo for their advice and support. Many thanks to Joan Sommers for her design work, which beautifully reflects the spirit of the great artist Leonardo. I am grateful for the help of my resourceful mother, Ruth Ross; Cynthia Sherry, the most helpful of editors; talented cover designer Sean O’Neill; and, most of all, my wonderful husband, Jeff. With thanks and love to you all. viii LDV pp i–6.qxd 10/12/09 4:23 PM Page ix NOTE TO READERS See the glossary on page 80 for an explanation of terms used in this book that you may be unfamiliar with. In the biography section beginning on page 82, you will find additional infor- mation about historical figures and Renaissance artists who are referred to in the book. There is also a resource section on page 86 that lists interesting web sites related to da Vinci and his interests, and museums around the world where you can see his paintings. ix