arnovalley

The landscape of the Arno Valley is a optical illusion composed of a naturalistic college of graceful
humans and animals intertwined, woven and wrapped in the countryside atmosphere of the Arno Valley.
Identifying each animal form requires careful scrutiny.

During the Italian Renaissance, landscape was not a universally admired element of painting. In his
writings Leonardo brought forth a theoretical basis for the sixteen century appearance of landscape as an
independent branch of painting, through many of his contemporaries through the landscape as something
without reason. Michelangelo and Botticelli for instance believed that the study of natural scenery was a
waste of time. Lionardo, however did not share their opinion and firmly disagreed with all such
disparaging views. Within the notes are words; If the painter wishes to bring forth sites or deserts cool
and shady places in times of heart warm spots when it is cold, he fashions them. So if he desires
valleys or wishes to discover vast tracks of land from mountain peaks and look at the sea on the
distant horizon beyond them it is in his power....In fact whatever exists in the universe either
potentially or actually or in the imagination, he has it first in his mind and then in his hands.

One can say Lionardo's paintings practice followed his stated theories. His earliest dated drawing, the
pen and ink landscape of the Arno Valley drawn when he was twenty one years of age, is an optical
illusion with images of detailed, enchanting animals and humans drawn from his imagination interwoven
with the environmental elements of the Arno Valley fused together. Among the Arno Valley optical
illusion, Lionardo's pen captures the love between a man and a woman, numerous animals above and
below the waterfall, and glimpses of various species throughout the drawing.

The baby lion cub peering precociously from beneath a cover of some kind. The tranquil donkey calmly
gazing over his shoulder. The bust of the feline beneath the waterfall, his attention focused on an unknown
object. The cat above the waterfall crouched in response. Among Lionardo's favorite animals was the
cat. Within his notebooks are found several pages devoted entirely to the study of cats portraying various
characteristics, postures and habitual traits of the species. Contained in his drawings are children
joyously holding, hugging and petting beloved feline. Encounters between animal and humans captured
Lionardo's interest and imagination so he placed many within his works. Within Lionardo's Arno Valley
optical illusions collage are interwoven images from the artist imagination, the countryside and his
personal recollection of people and animals. Arno Valley is a complex work with multiple elements the
interwoven constructs still being discovered today. Though an early work, it portrays the genius that was
Leonardo, and that would become one of, if not the most celebrated, artist and intellects in the history of
mankind.

One must understand Leonardo
wished to share his wealth of
knowledge but protected it
because of the evil in the world
and the pompous attitudes of those
unworthy of his knowledge for
profit. He being an artist inventor
expressed himself through his art
but due to the dangers of the times
he lived in he was limited to the
traditional and accepted modes of
art expression. Come and see but
truly understand the checks and
balances he's lied forth as a
precaution to get into the next
direction. He very ingeniously
guaranteed himself protection from
falseness of life. The Mona Lisa
and other masterpieces are perfect
examples of the newly discovered
dimensions found within the world
of
Leonardo da Vinci.