“It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.”
- April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519
- Italian
- A versatile man (painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, scientist, etc.)
- He created many works of art, including the paintings “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” and also left behind many pioneering ideas in science and engineering, such as “blueprints for airplanes” and “anatomical studies.”
Quote
“It is better to imitate ancient than modern work.”
Explanation
In this quote, Leonardo da Vinci advocates for looking to the ancients—the classical artists, philosophers, and scientists of ancient Greece and Rome—as models for inspiration and learning. He suggests that the works of these earlier thinkers and creators are of a higher quality and have a timeless value that modern works may not yet have achieved. Da Vinci believed that ancient knowledge and artistry were refined through centuries of thought, experimentation, and reflection, and that contemporary work (in his time) lacked the same depth and mastery.
Historically, this quote reflects the Renaissance humanist belief in the value of classical knowledge and the revival of ancient ideas. During the Renaissance, there was a strong emphasis on reclaiming and reviving the teachings and artistic methods of ancient cultures, especially in response to the perceived intellectual stagnation of the Medieval period. Da Vinci, like many Renaissance artists, drew heavily on the works of the Greeks and Romans, believing that these ancient scholars had uncovered universal truths about the world that were worth emulating.
In modern terms, this quote speaks to the importance of learning from the past. Whether in art, science, or philosophy, the idea is that foundational knowledge and principles established by earlier thinkers can provide valuable guidance and inspiration for contemporary work. Da Vinci’s emphasis on imitating the ancient does not necessarily mean blindly copying, but rather understanding the depth of ancient thought and using it as a foundation for growth and innovation. It suggests that while modern work may offer new perspectives, the wisdom and craftsmanship of the past remain essential for understanding and building upon the present.