Redditors Learn How Leonardo Da Vinci Became Famous For Buying Caged Birds At Markets And Setting Them Free

"Our lives are made by the deaths of others" and how "our stomachs have become a sepulcher for all animals"

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• December 8, 2022

Leonardo never questioned the Christian belief that humans were created in the image of God or the classical idea that a white, middle-aged, able-bodied European man's proportions and symmetry were attractive and deserving of replication in design. He never, however, implied that other creatures were less lovely, soulless, or stupid.

He frequently made comparisons between humans and animals, with animals frequently coming out on top. "Man has much power of discourse, which for the most part is vain and false; animals have but little, but it is useful and true, and a small truth is better than a great lie," Leonardo said in one of his notebooks.

He frequently emphasized how much more acute and powerful animal senses were, as well as how much faster, stronger, and more adept they were at doing amazing feats like flying. And unlike humans, animals were not nearly as "bestial" to one another.

King of the animals—as thou hast described him—I should rather say king of the beasts,” he wrote. Leonardo bemoaned how "our lives are made by the deaths of others" and how "our stomachs have become a sepulcher for all animals."

Giorgio Vasari, an artist, and biographer, noted that Leonardo was renowned for purchasing caged birds and releasing them, and he actually promoted consuming the senplici (Latin for "simples") that nature provided in abundance. This term appears to imply plant-based recipes.

More info: Reddit, artsy.net

Redditor u/Krieger_Bot_OO7 has this interesting piece of information to share with the TodayILearned subreddit group

Leonardo Davinci was famed for buying caged birds at markets and setting them free

He wondered why nature had produced a world where animals consumed one another but came to the conclusion that since life must reproduce in order to survive, nature needs a means of controlling population. But he made no mention of avoiding eating meat in his writing.

Although it's possible he was buying it for his household's students, servants, visitors, and animals, his shopping lists do contain meat.

And the comments from Redditors roll in...

How he got a ninja turtle named after him

Why people say his name all the time

Why I kept hearing about that guy

He's a bro

Studying their flight patterns

Whatever this Redditor is saying

Looks like what?

The irony if it all is that...

He was famed for his art

For the second commenter, it's all of the above

A pretty sad and funny story

What this Redditor read it as

Leonardo da Vinci, allegory of a dog and an eagle

What this Redditor read the title as

Take a look at those arms

Referring to him as the master of setting birds free

This Redditor does the same thing with shelter dogs

The beginning of a solid business plan

Leonardo da Vinci was famed for his paintings

Leonardo may or may not have been a vegetarian, but there is no denying that he cared deeply about animals. He grew up with animals on a farm, and they were constantly present in his studio.

Leonardo studied them, portrayed them, wrote about them, and drew inspiration from them to build devices—even war machines.

Maryjane