A BOY OF GENIUS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 21, 16 April 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

A BOY OF GENIUS

In the little town of Vinci, between Florence and Pisa, in Italy, was born in the year 1452 one of the greatest men of genius the world has ever known, for not only did he become one of Italy’s greatest artists, but there seemed nothing he could not do. He had great engineering skill, and was ever inventing some new kind of mechanism. Once he made a beautiful lute for the Duke of Milan, and the duke was so pleased with its workmanship that he gave its maker a good position at his court. Leonardo da Vinci was famed for his beautiful face and charm of manner. As a child he was strange, and unlike other children; yet there was something about him which none could resist, and he was a favourite with all.

Whatever he set his mind to do, he could do without an effort. Indeed, he could do so many things that his painting master once complained: “He finishes nothing, for he is ever starting to do something else.” These words were true. The boy seldom "worked long at any one thing. Often, instead of painting, he would carve out tiny windmills and toys which worked with pulleys and ropes, and his less-gifted friends would gather to envy and admire. Once, when his master was engaged painting a picture of the Holy Baptism, he noticed that Leonardo was sitting idle, dreaming, with a far-away look in his eyes. He pointed to the picture, and asked his pupil to paint in the kneeling figure of an angel at the side.

For a moment Leonardo stood as if lost in thought. Then he quickly took the brushes, working away with them until the figure was finished. When it was done, the master w*as amazed at the genius it displayed. For years he had striven to reach his ideal in art, but this boy had grasped it without an effort. He laid his hand upon his pupil’s shoulder, and said: “I have found my master; I shall paint no more.” Throughout his iife Leonardo showed his wonderful ability to accomplish any kind of work which he undertook with the greatest ease. Two great works of art were executed by him during his stay at. the court of the Duke of Milan. One was the painting of “The Last Supper” on the walls of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and the other the making of a great equestrian statue, a bronze horse, with the figure of the duke upon its back. When the French took possession of Milan this beautiful statue was destroyed, The fresco of “The Last Supper” was almost completely destroyed also, for the monks, in after years, cut a door through the very centre of it.

After the taking o£ Milan, da Vinci fell upon evil days. For a wTiile he lived in Rome, then he went to Florence, where he painted his famous portrait of Mona Lisa, the theft of which from the Louvre at Paris created such a stir some time ago. His last days were spent in France.