The Renaissance Man
Walter Isaacson’s 2017 biography of Leonardo da Vinci brings to light the mind and methods of a true polymath. With a seemingly insatiable curiosity, Leonardo studied the world around him, from the motion of the wings of dragonflies to the way light reflects off curved glass, not to mention the extraordinary range of his other pursuits reflected in the quotation embedded in this week’s acrostic. Curiosity, in Isaacson’s telling, was Leonardo’s superpower.
And yet, Isaacson presents Leonardo as human, rather than mythic. His curiosity apparently drew Leonardo away from ongoing projects, with the result that some of his potentially greatest artistic works remained unfinished at his death.
When we constructed and submitted this puzzle to the NYT some months ago, we had no idea –- really, truly –- that an unbelievable heist involving priceless objects on display in the Louvre would once again become the subject of a news flash (Answer I.) The art theft (Answer E.) that took place in 1911 was, if anything, more sensational.
Vicenzo Peruggia, an Italian-born handyman who had previously worked in the museum, hid overnight in a small closet in the Louvre, emerging the following day when the museum was closed. He unscrewed the frame around the Mona Lisa that he had helped to install, removed the painting, and walked out with it under his coat undetected. The massive investigation that followed proved fruitless for two years. Among those questioned was Pablo Picasso! Eventually, Peruggia, who later claimed that the Mona Lisa had been stolen from Italy, offered it to an Italian art dealer in Florence. He was arrested but wound up serving only eight months in prison. Many Italians of the day viewed him as something of a folk hero.
A few decades later, the famous painting of Mona Lisa — made even more famous because of the 1911 heist — turned up in another art form:
Four years after Nat King Cole recorded this tune, Alfred Hitchcock included it (briefly) in Rear Window (Answer O.) As the camera pans across the apartments facing Jimmy Stewart’s room, we hear a group of partygoers singing “Mona Lisa.”
This week’s puzzle includes references to a number of Leonardo’s other works, including The Last Supper, pictured above, as well as some of his attributes and contemporaries. How many references did you catch?
Great puzzle. Loved Clue F especially.
Another highly artistic puzzle worthy of the great master himself! I suppose we should call this puzzle The Da Vinci Code. Thanks for a fun solve!
Terrific Acrostic.
Super challenging at least for me. I gave up on it, came back and filled in answer p as yada. Turned out to be wrong but somehow that was the breakthrough. Really enjoyed the struggle. Thanks!
These seemed like da Vinci references: wheel, invented, curiosity, sonata (?), Last Supper, offbeat, dissecting, and Imagine. I am not sure about the polymath’s musical contributions! I do have a fond memory of visiting the museum in his hometown, which showcased his mirror writing, his drawings, and his precursor to the helicopter.
Enjoy Walter Isaacson’s books and this bio of da Vinci is wonderful. It sits proudly on my shelf. Lady with an Ermine is one of my favorite paintings and I was able to see the original. With Last Supper in mind, when I got an R to start the next to last word in the quote, it had to be RENAISSANCE MAN. Another fun puzzle, thanks.
Another absolutely sublime Acrostic from David and Jane!
A very challenging and rewarding solve indeed.
Great acrostic as always!
I thought “naysays” (answer m) was really cute since the verb form is less common than its noun counterpart and possesses an amusing double-alliterative quality.
Okay, I had to check: my AI bot says DaVinci and Vespucci knew one-another and Vespucci was introduced to Columbus through a mutual connection.
Stay curious!
I don’t think I knew this column existed! Thank you! I live for the Acrostics!!!
It’s insane they are not on the NYT puzzle page and we have to dig around to find.
You’re geniuses and they bring great joy! Thanks for this background to last week’s “masterpiece”
Andrea — welcome aboard! We’re so glad you found our blog. Please feel free to comment again as the spirit moves you.
Jane and Dave