Decoding da Vinci | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

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Published 2023-03-15
Discover the science behind Leonardo da Vinci's masterpieces—and Mona Lisa's iconic smile. (Aired November 13, 2019)

Official Website: to.pbs.org/3ZJHjmY | #NOVAPBS
Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance genius. Not only did he paint masterpieces of art, but he was an obsessive scientist and inventor, dreaming up complex machines centuries ahead of his time, including parachutes, armored tanks, hang gliders, and robots. On the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, with the help of biographer Walter Isaacson, NOVA investigates the secrets of Leonardo’s success. How did his scientific curiosity, from dissections of cadavers to studies of optics, shape his genius and help him create perhaps the most famous painting of all time, the "Mona Lisa"?

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
04:47 How Did da Vinci Make a Perfect Painting?
09:07 The Original Mona Lisa
14:29 The Early Life of Leonardo da Vinci: Engineer, Scientist, Artist
23:41 The Science of Painting: Restoring a da Vinci Masterpiece
29:17 Modern Day Painters Using da Vinci’s Process
32:24 Leonardo da Vinci’s Anatomical Accuracy
39:36 Mona Lisa’s Smile: Do Our Eyes Trick Us?
44:21 Shocking Result of the Restoration of Bacchus
46:13 Digital Restoration of the Mona Lisa
50:28 Conclusion

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#davinci #leonardodavinci #monalisa #renaissance #anatomy #painting #bacchus #finearts

All Comments (21)
  • @ambermcvay6844
    I am almost 49 yrs old and never understood why people were so enamored by the Mona Lisa, now after watching this, i have to say i am now among them. Great work yall❤
  • @Newbeginnings228
    I started crying when I saw The Mona Lisa back in 2004 when I was 25, it’s called Stendhal Syndrome: it’s an intense physical and/or mental symptoms while viewing Artwork. I cried for like an hour. It was amazing and so beautiful. I didn’t know a piece of artwork could invoke such an intense feeling. It made me appreciate life in a new way.
  • @dloadthis1617
    Since NOVA is nice enough to provide all of us to watch their documentaries free of charge... The least we could do is to click the "Like" button to support them. That is the least we can do! 👍😍👍
  • His ideas were 500 years ahead of those times.... Breathtakingly intelligent and his creativity was off the scale 😮 l am convinced Leonardo knew things that we don't know today ....
  • @VelaGodide-ls1ln
    He deserve to be called "Sir Leonardo Da Vinci" his art is unmatched ❤
  • I went to Paris in the late 90’s with my then husband & another couple. We went to the Louvre one day. The others glanced at the Mona Lisa. I was awestruck. They all walked off as I stood in front of the painting. Out of no where I started to cry as I stood there. Was totally overwhelmed. To this day I am not sure what happened. Finally broke away and had to find my husband and travel companions. That memory has stayed with me. That feeling of being overcome with emotion.
  • Leonardo,onorato di esser nato nel tuo solito paese. Il tuo genio,mi fa emozionare come un bambino e la tua grandezza non possiamo capirla del tutto, perché inarrivabile.
  • @gnome53
    Leonardo's work was so broad, it feels like this documentary should be just part of a series on his work. More, please!
  • @Jayson-Ellison
    Da Vinci is and always will be the ultimate polymath. Genius on all levels.
  • @striker44
    I am impressed with the scientific methods and engineering tools used to study the painting by the talented Leonardo, who was an engineer, a scientist , and an artist.
  • @41ankitt
    Today people see Art and Science different from each other sometimes in contradiction but in Leonardo's world they completed eachother without science he wouldn't have been able to make his masterpieces in art and without his drawings he wouldn't have been able to draw those wonderful and beautiful representations of the human anatomy ! .... He never saw the contradiction between art and science but rather them as one .... What a genius 🙂 ....
  • @seo.schweiz
    Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian polymath, artist, scientist, and inventor who lived during the Renaissance period. Born in 1452 in Vinci, Italy, he is widely considered one of the most influential figures in human history. Leonardo da Vinci's diverse talents and areas of expertise encompassed painting, sculpture, anatomy, engineering, architecture, mathematics, music, and more. As an artist, Leonardo da Vinci is renowned for his iconic works such as the "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." His artistic style, characterized by his use of soft sfumato and realistic depictions, showcased his mastery of light, shadow, and perspective.
  • @bgdavenport
    Stunning documentary. I stood right in front of Mona Lisa during my Senior trip in the Spring of '70. I could literally reach out and touch her, though I knew better than to do so. Unfortunately, she is behind armored glass to protect her evanescent beauty from those who have no such restraint.
  • @user-fs8tl7ni1w
    It’s also very possible that people spend just 15 seconds observing the ML because of the large crowds.
  • @StephiSensei26
    Spectacular! He studied his world, now the world studies him.
  • @PrincessPink433
    I never understood the controversy over a painting of a smiling woman haha, and I can’t believe he worked on a single painting for 16 years, that’s a lot of dedication! It was worth it though because it’s now the most famous painting (or work of art for that matter) in the world. I bet he’d be happy to see his art and other accomplishments being studied and celebrated all over the world, 500 years later.
  • @jonnybrown7813
    Da Vinci was an innovator. I think he will always stand out for being one of the best creators in history.. He was unique.
  • Genius of Genius! The world should thank not only Leonardo 's father, his Master Verochio, but also all his patrons and the society of his time for giving him the chance to flourish in all aspects of his creativity. We are lucky enough to be now, and witness his ingenius ideas. Thank you for sharing his knowledge even with our limited comprehension in an age of technological intelligence.
  • @slwtgf
    3:32 enigmatic , without trying or intentionally out to be enigmatic or secretive. That’s what gets me, is how genuine the smile /expression is done…