The name Leonardo da Vinci is often associated with fine art - after all, the work of this ingenious artist is rightly considered the embodiment of the High Italian Renaissance. For the average layman, the famous Italian is primarily the author of the famous Gioconda, whose smile has long become a household word.
Talented person is talented in everything
Not everyone knew and knows that Leonardo proved himself to be an unusually gifted person in many industries - he was interested in both mechanics and anatomy. A genius owns a number of ideas that are far ahead of his time.
Since the master tried himself in various forms, it is not surprising that he also had literary experiences that the brilliant Italian, apparently, did not intend to give to the public at all: Leonardo da Vinci wrote numerous short stories and fables for his own pleasure.
Samples of the pen were found only after his death, and it was immediately discovered that a talented person is really talented in everything. The works are written in brilliant prose, they are concise, original and accurate. The author did not imitate his predecessors at all, preferring to find his own means of expressing thoughts - and he always succeeded.
Leonardo da Vinci in literature
The literary experiments of a genius are very diverse: here are descriptions of nature, and humorous notes, and even skillfully constructed riddles. Very interesting and original fables of Leonardo da Vinci, sometimes referred to as parables: the images in them are bright and unexpected, the comparisons are accurate, the meaning is deep. The author did not limit his fantasy to someone else's style (for example, he did not become an adherent of the Aesopian language). The characters of the fables delight with diversity: people, animals, and even inanimate objects indulge in thought.
In his works, a brilliant artist (and, as it turned out, a fabulist) turned to a variety of problems: it seems that it is both witty drawn conclusions made during long deliberation and a sketch of sudden insights that visited the author. All the fables of Leonardo da Vinci are not alike. Heroes, situations, morals are always different. Sometimes the conclusion is on the surface, sometimes the product allows for different interpretations. Only their undeniable talent and amusement unites them: reading these short parables is at least interesting.
To know, you need to be interested
Leonardo da Vinci’s fables are not included in the school curriculum, but they are often used by authors of intellectual quizzes. It is understood that a person whose educational level is above average should have an idea of the literary experiences of the great Italian. Well, they are definitely worth it.
At the heart of almost every fable of Leonardo da Vinci is justice. In the name of her achievement, the heroes acting in an unseemly way fall into a mess. And sometimes they turn out to be eaten (the unfortunate rodent from the fable “Mouse and Oyster”, which tried to trick a mollusk into deception, but instead ended up in a cat’s stomach).
Idea of justice retribution
As a rule, survivors willingly agree that they were punished according to their deserts (a merchant from Leonardo da Vinci’s fable about monks).
The essence of the work is this: a cunning bargainer, reminding two wandering representatives of the clergy that there is something unacceptable during fasting (the charter does not order), single-handedly dealt with the chicken, which should have been divided into three. The wandering monks did not remind the merchant that the travelers were allowed concessions, and taught the rogue a visual lesson.
One of them took the merchant across the river, carried it to the middle and threw it into the water - wet and luggage, and boots, and the sly's clothes. The monk explained his action in Jesuit: they say that the charter does not order to carry money (and, of course, the representative of the commerce had it). The moral of Leonardo da Vinci’s fable about monks is simple: for all the tricks a fair retribution can follow, and the trick shown can turn against the one who resorts to it.
Confidence that can disarm
The idea of retaliation is, in principle, not new: similar thoughts are easy to find from other authors. But da Vinci in his works addresses other aspects of life, sometimes quite unexpected. Everyone remembers Krylov’s fable “The Wolf and the Lamb,” in which the gray predator eats up the unfortunate baby, arguing simply: “You are to blame for the fact that I want to eat.”
Despite the initial arrangement of heroes (predator and prey), a completely different meaning lies in the work of Leonardo da Vinci. The fable “Lion and the Lamb” is a short and capacious sketch with a rather unexpected outcome. The author claims that even the most ferocious predator can disarm confidence and naivety. Unlike the wolf Krylov, the lion da Vinci could not deceive the trust of a small creature and remained hungry.
It is unlikely that the finale of this fable of Leonardo da Vinci can be considered typical or count on something similar in everyday life: after all, someone's defenselessness can disarm only a very noble heart. However, it is entirely possible that the author did not in vain choose the lion as the protagonist of the work: who should show the greatness of the soul, if not to the beast king himself ?
Sense of humor
Other parables of the master testify to how deep and peculiar sense of humor Leonardo da Vinci possessed: the fable “The rich man and the poor man”, for example, draws us a craftsman who, after the end of a hard working day, goes to visit a wealthy fellow countryman living in luxury. When he finally asked about the reason for such frequent (and silent) visits, the worker almost mockingly answered him that he was coming to admire the conditions in which the owner of the house lives in order to “divert his soul”. He deeply sympathizes with the rich man: he has nowhere to go for the same purpose, because only beggars live around.
The meaning of this work is not at all obvious. It is not entirely clear what Leonardo da Vinci wanted to tell his readers. The fable “The rich and the poor” calls for “to be taken away and divided,” according to the favorite principle of some revolutionaries? Or just rejoice at the wit of a craftsman? Contains a reasonable idea that it is much more pleasant to be surrounded by wealthy people? Or maybe the author is trying to convey to the reader how important it is to be able to see beauty?
Beauty and goodness are not identical
The value of the aesthetic side of life da Vinci probably understood. After all, it is fair to say that he himself took a direct part in creating the beautiful. True, the great artist does not discover a tendency to unconditional deification of beauty: he realizes that it can be used for an evil deed.
Another famous work of Leonardo da Vinci testifies to this: the Panther fable, in which the little monkey admires the magnificent skin of a dangerous predator. Mother explains that with the help of cute spots, similar to strange flowers, a cunning killer lures a gullible victim: thus, beauty does not necessarily serve good - summarizes Leonardo da Vinci. The Panther fable tells us yet another conclusion: ethical thinking was not alien to the great master. He often turns to morality, and in his execution of these concepts are completely Christian.
Greatness of reason and labor
Even more often, da Vinci reflects on the benefits and greatness of labor, which he considers not humiliating for a person, but necessary. A fable about a razor that shone in the sun and imagines itself can serve as confirmation. God knows what. Refusing to work in a barber shop (after all, shaving someone’s soaped cheeks is not worthy of her splendor), she became rusty and repented bitterly, realizing how important work is in life. Also - the author further clarifies - the human mind rusts without use.
Reason, the fruits of his work generally puts Leonardo da Vinci high: the fable “Paper and Ink” tells about this. A stupid piece of paper, striving to maintain its pristine cleanliness, accuses the inkwell of being “soiled” through its fault. The accused reasonably objects to the fact that these are not dirty tricks and squiggles, but messages of reason - and it turns out to be right. Finding paper on the table — yellowed, dusty, already unsuitable for writing — a person throws away blank sheets, leaving only one — the very one with notes, recognizing the value of this “message of reason”.
Stupidity and genius are incompatible
Apparently, the brilliant Italian not only appreciated the mind, but also contemptuously displayed human stupidity. A work entitled “Tongue and Teeth” ranks the talkativeness as a sign of a near mind - this is the meaning of the fable written by Leonardo da Vinci: think first, then speak. The parable describes the conflict between the teeth and the endlessly ranting tongue, which, despite all the warnings, lies, gape and deservedly punished: the teeth bit it from the heart.
Since then, the fable Leonardo da Vinci grins with a grin, “Think first, then speak” - the motto of the talker. Fearing to be bitten, he finally began to behave decently.
Hollywood Happy End invented by da Vinci
I must say that almost all the fables of Leonardo da Vinci end happily: justice triumphs, stupidity, cunning and greed are put to shame, the lessons go to the good of the heroes, etc. Apparently, the great master was a very bright man and believed in the victory of reason - over stupidity, light above darkness, good above evil.
Most of his conclusions are fairly transparent and accessible to everyone from a moral point of view. The globally recognized genius does not "philosophize mischievously." The moral of many fables is distinct and even commonplace: to work is good. To cunning and dodging is bad. Thinking is wonderful. Greed is unworthy.
The great Leonardo has a lot to learn not only for people who are dedicated to art. In his life and work, any person will find benefit and outlet for himself.