Leonardo da Vinci 1

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greatest geniuses (天才) of all time. He was a painter, an architect (建筑師), an engineer and a scientist.

He was born in Vinci, Italy in 1452. Vinci is a town just outside of the great Italian city, Florence. His name Da Vinci means "of Vinci”.

Leonardo’s father was a lawyer and landowner, and his mother was a peasant.

Leonardo’s parents were never married to each other.

Exercise:

1.— When he was born?

? — He was born in 1452.

2.— What was his father's profession?

? — Leonardo’s father was a lawyer and land owner.

3. Leonardo’s parents were never married to each other.

Leonardo lived with his mother until he was around 5 years old. When he was 5, he moved into the home of his father. By then his father had married a 16-year-old girl.

Leonardo’s mother married another man, and moved to another town. She had many more children after that, with several different men.

In the end, Leonardo had more than 15 half-sisters (同父異母或同母異父的姐妹) and brothers.

Exercise:

1.— With whom did he live until he was five?

? — Leonardo lived with his mother until he was around 5 years old.

2. Leonardo’s mother married another man, and moved to another town.

As a young man, Da Vinci didn’t go to school. He was educated at home in reading, writing and mathematics.

In other subjects, he was mostly self-educated (自學(xué)的).

He had access to books at his father’s home.

Leonardo spent a lot of time outdoors and developed a strong interest in nature.

He loved to observe things, especially birds.

He was also interested in the properties (特性) of water.

Exercise:

1.— In what did he develop a strong interest?

? — He developed a strong interest in nature.

2. He had access to books at his father’s home.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. When he was five, he moved into the home of his father.

2. He developed a strong interest in nature.

3. Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greatest geniuses of all time.

4. Leonardo lived with his mother until he was around 5 years old.

Leonardo da Vinci 2

Leonardo’s early drawings and paintings demonstrated a rare talent.

His father and his father’s friends recognized his talent and encouraged him.

When he was 15, he was sent to Florence.

In Florence, he became an apprentice (學(xué)徒污呼，徒弟) to a famous master painter (繪畫大師).

For the next few years, Leonardo worked at his master’s workshop (創(chuàng)作室裕坊，工作室).

It wasn't long before his ability surpassed (超過，勝過燕酷，優(yōu)于) that of his master.

Some people say that his master became jealous of (嫉妒) Leonardo’s great talent.

They say that the master vowed (發(fā)誓) to never paint again.

In 1478, with his father's help, Leonardo set up his own workshop.

Exercise:

1.— What did his early drawings and paintings demonstrate?

? — Leonardo’s early drawings and paintings demonstrated a rare talent in art.

2. It wasn't long before his ability surpassed that of his master.

In 1482, he entered the service of a powerful man in the city of Milan. This man was the Duke of Milan.

For the next few years, Leonardo designed buildings, machinery and weapons of war.

Weapons were important because Italy was constantly at war during this period.

From 1485 to 1490, Leonardo produced designs for a variety of weapons.

In his notes, he predicted the development of advanced weapons such as submarines and flying machines.

In 1499, the French invaded Italy and Leonardo left Milan.

Exercise:

1.— Why weapons were important that time?

? — Weapons were important because Italy was constantly at war during this period.

2.— What kinds of advanced weapons did he predict?

? — He predicted the development of advanced weapons such as submarines and flying machines.

3. From 1485 to 1490, Leonardo produced designs for a variety of weapons.

All together, Leonardo spent 17 years in Milan.

During this period he spent much of his time studying nature.

He dissected bodies, both human and animal, to study and illustrate anatomy.

His detailed illustrations are masterpieces.

Leonardo filled many notebooks with drawings and ideas.

He wrote backwards, so you need a mirror to read them.

Exercise:

1.— How did he spend much of jis time in Milan?

? — During this period he spent much of his time studying nature.

2. He dissected bodies, both human and animal, to study and illustrate anatomy.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. When he was 15, he was sent to Florence.

2. His detailed illustrations are masterpieces.

3. You need a mirror to read his notebooks because he wrote backwards.

4. He dissected bodies, both human and animal, to study and illustrate anatomy.

After 1500, Leonardo spent time in a number of Italian cities.

He worked very slowly, and the range of his interests was very wide.

As a result, Leonardo left many paintings and projects unfinished.

One painting that he did finish was the Mona Lisa, one of the world’s most famous paintings.

People are still interested in this painting, 500 years after he painted it.

Thought there are many theories, nobody knows who the woman in the painting really was.

Exercise:

1.— What was one painting that he did finish?

? — One painting that he did finish was the Mona Lisa, one of the world’s most famous paintings.

2.— What are people still interested in?

? — People are still interested in this painting, 500 years after he painted it.

3. People are still interested in this painting, 500 years after he painted it.

In 1516 Leonardo left Italy for good when the French King, Francis I, offered him a position.

There he had the freedom to paint or draw whatever he wanted.

Leonardo died in 1519 at the age of 67.

Some say that the French King, who had became a close friend, was with him when he died.

He was buried in a church which was destroyed during the French Revolution.

The exact location of his remains is unknown.

Exercise:

1.— Who offered Leonardo a position in 1516?

? — The King of France, Francis I, offered him a position.

2.— Where was he buried?

? — He was buried in a church which was destroyed during the French Revolution.

3. Some say that the French King, who had became a close friend, was with him when he died.

4. There he had the freedom to paint or draw whatever he wanted.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. The exact location of his remains is unknown.

2. Some say that the French King was with him when he died.

3. In 1516 Leonardo left Italy for good when the French King, Francis I, offered him a position.

4. Thought there are many theories, nobody knows who the woman in the painting really was.