"Da Vinci"

Leonardo was born April 15, 1452 in the Tuscany town Vinci, by the Arno River. Leonardo and his family weren’t rich people and Leonardo’s name “da Vinci” simply means “of Vinci.” After studying some of Leonardo da Vinci’s work I really liked his first known piece named “Arno River,” and it can now be found in the Uffizi. I found this piece of artwork interesting because he was so young when he finished it. Although this was his first piece noticed it had a special meaning, and it was as if Leonardo wasn’t trying to be creative. It came naturally to him. The story behind this painting was that two Florentine men collaborated on a project to re-altar the Arno River. Consequently, Leonardo da Vinci had heard about the two Florentines and decided to make his own map. He used different canals and locks, and to change the course of the Arno River. It would help divert the river and would provide Florence with an outlet to the sea, by passing the military base in Pisa. In addition, it would help limit the damage of the surrounding farmlands from flooding. This map later showed his interest in hydrodynamics and its harbinger of his late Arno and Romarantin projects.

Leonardo da Vinci "Arno Valley" (1473)