Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
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Mercedes T. Bass Lecture: Leonardo da Vinci and His World

Note: This is a past event, additional resources may be available below.

Tue Aug 8, 2017
Aspen, CO

Date

Tue Aug 8, 2017
11:00am – 12:30pm MDT

Location

Aspen, CO
Doerr-Hosier Center
845 Meadows Rd

Contact

    [email protected]
    970.544.7935

Hosts

[youtube_embed source=”3oq8-4PJQBU” caption_title=”Mercedes T. Bass Lecture: Leonardo da Vinci and His World” caption_text=”Featuring Bill Cook, Walter Isaacson, Martin Kemp, Ross King, Luke Syson, and Bill Wallace in conversation.” /]

What elements of a place and time spark and nourish creativity? One might say Leonardo was born at the right time — an extraordinary talent with the good luck to live when artistic expression and scientific exploration were deeply valued and financially supported (though Leonardo himself struggled to find steady patronage). How did the context of Renaissance Italy allow Leonardo and his contemporaries to experiment so boldly and reach such spectacular heights? We’ll explore Florence and Milan — with a short stop in France — to illuminate the particular aspects of the era’s political structure, patronage system, the Church, and key scientific debates and discoveries that yielded this magical mix. If Leonardo had been born elsewhere in another century, would he be the icon we revere today? What lessons can we apply to our own society?[youtube_embed source=”3oq8-4PJQBU” caption_title=”Mercedes T. Bass Lecture: Leonardo da Vinci and His World ” caption_text=”Featuring Bill Cook, Walter Isaacson, Martin Kemp, Ross King, Luke Syson, and Bill Wallace in conversation.” /]

Watch live:
5:00-6:30 MDT

What elements of a place and time spark and nourish creativity? One might say Leonardo was born at the right time — an extraordinary talent with the good luck to live when artistic expression and scientific exploration were deeply valued and financially supported (though Leonardo himself struggled to find steady patronage). How did the context of Renaissance Italy allow Leonardo and his contemporaries to experiment so boldly and reach such spectacular heights? We’ll explore Florence and Milan — with a short stop in France — to illuminate the particular aspects of the era’s political structure, patronage system, the Church, and key scientific debates and discoveries that yielded this magical mix. If Leonardo had been born elsewhere in another century, would he be the icon we revere today? What lessons can we apply to our own society?

Featuring Bill Cook, Walter Isaacson, Martin Kemp, Ross King, Luke Syson, and Bill Wallace in conversation. 

*This event is sold out. The waitlist will begin when doors open at 4:15 pm.

Society of Fellows may reserve complimentary tickets to this event by emailing [email protected] or calling 970.544.7980.

Parking is very limited. Please carpool, walk, ride RFTA or ride a We-cycle bike. Information: www.we-cycle.org or www.rfta.com.