702
and “Annunciation” (1473–1475), “Madonna of the Carnation” (Madonna with a
Vase of Flowers), c. 1472–1478, and, of course, “Portrait of Lisa del Giocondo
(Mona Lisa),” 1503–1506 and later (1510).
10
Yet, this vivacious intellect, restlessly
perusing every conceivable discipline, remains the epitome of that convergence of
the consciousness with one’s sense of moral duty. Leonardo was a vegetarian,
though no vegan. Biographer Serge Bramly mentions a letter in 1515 between two
of Leonardo’s contemporaries in which is referenced the Hindu’s respect for all
creatures “like our Leonardo da Vinci”.
11
And despite some debate as to the extent
of Leonardo’s actual eating habits,
12
Walter Isaacson’s recent biography cites
Leonardo’s Notebooks, as well as comments by friends, one of whom declares, “He
would not kill a flea for any reason whatsoever.” “He preferred to dress in linen, so
as not to wear something dead.” Isaacson concludes, “His rationale for avoiding
meat derived from a morality based on science”.
13
By exercising basic dietary
restraint from a position of firm ethical conviction, Leonardo had essentially merged
his imagination with a probability event, a target of the conscience, life forms he
sought to protect (Fig. 77.2).
10 See Leonardo da Vinci -The Complete Paintings and Drawings, by Frank Zöllner, Taschen, Köln,
Germany 2007.
11 Leonardo – Discovering The Life Of Leonardo Da Vinci, A Biography, by Serge Bramly,
Translated by Siân Reynolds, Edward Burlingame Books, HarperCollins Publishers, New York,
1991, p. 240.
12 See “Was Leonardo Da Vinci a Vegetarian?” by Shelley Esaak, July 10, 2019, ThoughtCo.,
https://www.thoughtco.com/was-leonardo-a-vegetarian-183277, Accessed June 24, 2020.
13 See Leonardo Da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson, Simon & Schuster, New York 2017, p. 130.
77 The Finely Honed Basis of Unknowing
and “Annunciation” (1473–1475), “Madonna of the Carnation” (Madonna with a
Vase of Flowers), c. 1472–1478, and, of course, “Portrait of Lisa del Giocondo
(Mona Lisa),” 1503–1506 and later (1510).
10
Yet, this vivacious intellect, restlessly
perusing every conceivable discipline, remains the epitome of that convergence of
the consciousness with one’s sense of moral duty. Leonardo was a vegetarian,
though no vegan. Biographer Serge Bramly mentions a letter in 1515 between two
of Leonardo’s contemporaries in which is referenced the Hindu’s respect for all
creatures “like our Leonardo da Vinci”.
11
And despite some debate as to the extent
of Leonardo’s actual eating habits,
12
Walter Isaacson’s recent biography cites
Leonardo’s Notebooks, as well as comments by friends, one of whom declares, “He
would not kill a flea for any reason whatsoever.” “He preferred to dress in linen, so
as not to wear something dead.” Isaacson concludes, “His rationale for avoiding
meat derived from a morality based on science”.
13
By exercising basic dietary
restraint from a position of firm ethical conviction, Leonardo had essentially merged
his imagination with a probability event, a target of the conscience, life forms he
sought to protect (Fig. 77.2).
10 See Leonardo da Vinci -The Complete Paintings and Drawings, by Frank Zöllner, Taschen, Köln,
Germany 2007.
11 Leonardo – Discovering The Life Of Leonardo Da Vinci, A Biography, by Serge Bramly,
Translated by Siân Reynolds, Edward Burlingame Books, HarperCollins Publishers, New York,
1991, p. 240.
12 See “Was Leonardo Da Vinci a Vegetarian?” by Shelley Esaak, July 10, 2019, ThoughtCo.,
https://www.thoughtco.com/was-leonardo-a-vegetarian-183277, Accessed June 24, 2020.
13 See Leonardo Da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson, Simon & Schuster, New York 2017, p. 130.
77 The Finely Honed Basis of Unknowing