Art Appreciation (ARTAPRE)

7 Da Vincian Principles

In his 1998 book “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci”, Michael Gelb outlined seven principles
that he believes define Da Vinci’s work LEONARDO DA VINCI

1. Curiosità - or curiosity, marking his insatiable quest for knowledge and continuous
improvement

2. Dimostrazion - or demonstration, testing knowledge through personal experience rather

than taking others’ reports for granted

3. Sensazione - or sensation, continued refinement of the senses to sharpen observation

and response

4. Sfumato - a painting technique employed by Da Vinci to create an ethereal quality in his

work, showing his ability to embrace ambiguity and change

5. Arte/scienza - the balance between art and science or the science of art, which he
demonstrated in his whole-brain thinking

6. Corporalità - or “of the body,” representing his belief that a healthy mind requires a
healthy body and the importance of cultivating both fitness and poise

7. Connessione - or connection, for his habit of weaving together multiple disciplines

around a single idea, recognizing and appreciating that all phenomena are connected.