Western Culture Global Presents The Top 100 Heroes of Western Culture These individuals have most contributed to replacing ignorance with knowledge, savagery with civilization, disease with health, tyranny with liberty, poverty with abundance, and despair with happiness. #37: Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian artist and scientist who epitomized as much as anyone the spirit of the Renaissance. As one of history's greatest artist, da Vinci often crafted paintings that glorified nature, worldliness and the human form. As a scientist, he made important contributions to the fields of anatomy, botany, geology, mechanics, embryology, optics, hydrodynamics and even aviation. Da Vinci's success in both art and science sprung from his method which was based exclusively on observation and experiment. He recognized no authority higher than nature and the judgment of his own mind. Or in his words: "Many will think that they can with reason blame me, alleging that my proofs are contrary to the authority of certain men held in great reverence by their unexperienced judgments, not considering that my works are the issue of simple and plain experience which is the true mistress." In addition, he borrowed little from the past and, consequently he can be considered the first of the "moderns." Da Vinci was the quintessential Renaissance man, that is, someone who excels in a wide variety of subjects or fields because he is fully immersed in worldly endeavors and has love for life and learning. In this sense, da Vinci left the world more than his art and science; he provided an enduring example of how to live passionately. Go to #38: Norman Borloug Top 100 Western Culture Heroes — Home Top 100 Western Culture Heroes — by Numerical Order Top 100 Western Culture Heroes — by Century Top 100 Western Culture Heroes — by Category
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