Inspired by a Renaissance Man

Left: Toby, age 9, dressed up as Leonardo da Vinci for a school project. Photo by Masha Turchinsky. Right: Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452–1519). Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci (from Characaturas by Leonardo da Vinci, from Drawings by Wincelslaus Hollar, out of the Portland Museum), 1786. Aquatint and etching; Plate: 7 7/8 x 6 5/16 in. (20 x 16 cm), Sheet: 8 1/8 x 6 5/8 in. (20.6 x 16.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953 (53.600.3177)

«Here at #MetKids, we really enjoy learning about what encourages you to be your most inquisitive and artistic self. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Toby, a student at the Pearls Hawthorne School in Yonkers, New York.»

As part of a class project, Toby and his classmates participated in a living "wax museum" organized by their teacher. Each kid in the class was asked to research, discover key facts about, and dress up as a well-known figure from history who inspires them. You can just imagine how delighted we were to find out that Toby had chosen to portray the Italian artist, inventor, and draftsman Leonardo da Vinci, who lived during the Renaissance and whose drawings can be found in The Met collection. So, we asked him a little about why he chose this great artist.

Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452–1519). The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right, 1508–12. Black chalk, charcoal, and red chalk, with some traces of white chalk (?); some remains of framing outline in pen and brown ink at upper right (not by Leonardo); Sheet: 8 x 6 1/8 in. (20.3 x 15.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1951 (51.90)

Masha Turchinsky: Why are you inspired by Leonardo da Vinci?

Toby: To me, Leonardo's paintings and drawings look very real, like pictures taken by a real camera.

Masha Turchinsky: What is one of your favorite things you learned about Leonardo during your research?

Toby: My favorite fact is that Leonardo was both an artist and an inventor.

Masha Turchinsky: Speaking of artists, what is your personal favorite kind of art to make?

Toby: I like to draw imaginary characters and cut them out of the paper. Then I can play with them.

Masha Turchinsky: And when do you feel most creative?

Toby: I feel most creative when I sit down with a pencil and a notebook and draw random things from my imagination.

Masha Turchinsky: That sounds like you embrace the spirit of Leonardo's practice—not to mention the impressive beard. Thank you, Toby, for sharing your artistic inspirations and photo with us!

Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452–1519). A Bear Walking, ca. 1482–5. metalpoint on light buff prepared paper; 4 1/16 x 5 1/4 in. (10.3 x 13.3 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Robert Lehman Collection, 1975 (1975.1.369)

Tell us which artist from The Met collection inspires you. We look forward to your responses!