Free Art History Curriculum: Leonardo Da Vinci

"Mona Lisa" is one of Da Vinci's most famous paintings.
Leonardo da Vinci: b.April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy (find it on the globe) d. May 2, 1519 in Amboise, Kingdom of France (find it on the globe)

Style: High Renaissance (A simple explanation: "The Renaissance happened in the 14th - 16th centuries. It was a time when people in Europe had a reawakening of thought, art, literature, science, and government. They experimented, fought wars, and experienced religious change, moving away from Catholicism toward Protestant thought." Learn more about the Renaissance here.)

See some of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous paintings here. Learn about Da Vinci's interest in invention and science here.

Be sure to give your child plenty of time to study each work of art. Ask: How is Da Vinci's work like Van Gogh's? How is it different? How do you think Da Vinci's interest in science influenced his work as an artist? What stories do Da Vinci's paintings tell?

* Biography of Leonardo Da Vinci
* Another bio of Da Vinci
* Coloring page: "Mona Lisa" (another one here)
* Coloring page: "Lady with an Ermine"
* Coloring page: "Proportions of the Human Figure" (to print, right click, save to computer, then print)
* Coloring page: self portrait
* Coloring page: Last Supper
* Inexpensive Kindle book: Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci?
* Free book: Leonardo Da Vinci for Kids: 21 Activities
* Interactive website: Museum of Science, Leonardo Da Vinci
* Video: Why is the Mona Lisa so Famous?
* Video: 10 Worst Things That Have Happened to the Mona Lisa
* Activity: Da Vinci made his own paint; you can make paint, too.

Da Vinci was more than "just" an artist; if you like, you can add projects related to mirror writing (also here), flying machines, catapults (also here), helicopter, etc.

Learn more about this free art history curriculum for kids, plus a list of all artists covered so far, by clicking here.


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