Was Leonardo Da Vinci gay?

[DoctorP]

Simple question. I've been reading about him lately, and many "experts" tend to believe that perhaps he was gay.

Now this was one of the greatest thinkers of all time. A true artist, a man of science who was well ahead of his time.

Among the experts was Sigmund Frued. Frued said that Leonardo's extraordinary talents may well have been due to the fact that he was homosexual. That basically, by not having a lust for women, he channeled his emotions and energy into other tasks. That he basically used more of his mind, because he wasn't interested in the other sex.

Other experts over the years have put down Frued's theory, but what if it was true? What if the more "intellectual" people of the world, are inherently gay? Is there a connection?

[Sex Wax]

I dont know if there is a connection or not. But I really dont think it matters if someone is gay or not. the accomplishments one makes should not be regarded in terms of sexuality. If an architect designs a cool building, and everyone likes it, it is still cool. Why should it matter if he/she/both likes the bearded oyster or the tube steak? Doesnt matter to me. It still is a cool building.

[okisteve]

Simple question. I've been reading about him lately, and many "experts" tend to believe that perhaps he was gay.

Now this was one of the greatest thinkers of all time. A true artist, a man of science who was well ahead of his time.

Among the experts was Sigmund Frued. Frued said that Leonardo's extraordinary talents may well have been due to the fact that he was homosexual. That basically, by not having a lust for women, he channeled his emotions and energy into other tasks. That he basically used more of his mind, because he wasn't interested in the other sex.

Other experts over the years have put down Frued's theory, but what if it was true? What if the more "intellectual" people of the world, are inherently gay? Is there a connection?


LOL. It does have a ring of truth to it. Just think of what you might have accomplished to date in your life if you had put all the energy you've spent on getting laid into, say, studying insects or the stock market or restoring classic cars.

But it isn't only gays who choose that way of life. For a man or woman to choose a life of study, constructive efforts, or activism, does not mean he/she needs to be gay, or even sacrifice marriage and children.

[proudtobnotpc]

I dont know if there is a connection or not. But I really dont think it matters if someone is gay or not. the accomplishments one makes should not be regarded in terms of sexuality. If an architect designs a cool building, and everyone likes it, it is still cool. Why should it matter if he/she/both likes the bearded oyster or the tube steak? Doesnt matter to me. It still is a cool building.

good point wax. Maybe he was not gay, he just preferred men over women. I tend to agree with lust and channeling thing though, because I know women have taken alllllllllloooottttt of my damn energy:thumbup: in a good way :thumbup:

[Trail]

Maybe Da Vinci was trying to attract another similar mate by filtering himself into a non-formal courtship? Would it take another female intellectual to understand and appreciate all his work and would they have produced intellectual children? I don't feel as if it mattered if Da Vinci chased women or not. Super architects and artists are not unknown to the natural world of animals. Those male animals efforts in to strange and rather odd courtship displays and objects are all to attract a mate. Take the bower bird for example.

The star of this unusual menagerie, however, is the male bower bird, an accomplished avian architect that has long fascinated scientists with its remarkably complex courting behavior. Instead of using just showy plumes or a romantic melody to attract a mate, the pigeon-sized bower bird constructs an elaborate structure -- a bower -- on the forest floor from twigs, leaves, and moss. It then decorates the bower with colorful baubles, from feathers and pebbles to berries and shells.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/bowerbird/odd.html

http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/15025/wm/pd1130000.jpg

The only thing that an be agreed upon his how important and influential this man was.

[BleuEneG]

Simple question. I've been reading about him lately, and many "experts" tend to believe that perhaps he was gay.

That basically, by not having a lust for women, he channeled his emotions and energy into other tasks. That he basically used more of his mind, because he wasn't interested in the other sex.

?

There is an interesting point here about using your energy and channeling it towards being creative...it seems in the past five years that my husband has been gone (a total of 3 in all) I have become more creative, and more educated . When he is home I go back into "wife mode" and since I trying to meet some of his needs it takes time away from doing my own thing. That's not a complaint or anything...that's part of the job of being a wife but yeah when he is deployed it seems like I become better at alot of stuff.

[DoctorP]

Well...another interesting thing that Frued said about Da Vinci. Perhaps he was gay because he did not have a father figure for most of his life. This got me to thinking about the military. With the amount of deployments these days due to the war, could we be looking at a much larger gay community in say 15 years?

Mind you there have been many experts that have dispelled Frueds' observations, and I am not saying that he was right, I am merely saying that it has made for some interesting reading and caused me to do some added thinking.

[BleuEneG]

Well...another interesting thing that Frued said about Da Vinci. Perhaps he was gay because he did not have a father figure for most of his life. This got me to thinking about the military. With the amount of deployments these days due to the war, could we be looking at a much larger gay community in say 15 years?

Mind you there have been many experts that have dispelled Frueds' observations, and I am not saying that he was right, I am merely saying that it has made for some interesting reading and caused me to do some added thinking.

Whoaaaa DocP. ...Now you might be saying something that kinda makes sense but that's not politically correct. Watch out!

But really I never thought of that and I can't imagine that in generations past where fathers were gone to war that the boys in those homes "became" gay. But I have heard that a trend that seems to have been tracked in the childhoods of gay men were that there was an overbearing mother and a silent father.

We see it all the time....a man who just has a more reserved personality marries a take charge kind of gal and it seems the kids gaff off dad because it's mom who makes all the rules and takes a strong arm to the discipline. These are the guys that other folks say are whipped by a woman who is harsh on the kids and doesnt show much affection. Now that's just a theory I heard...not saying its so.

This reminds me of another recent thread..hmmm maybe I had a point in another post that the role of a father really is important.

[perfect10]

I studied Leonardo De Vinci through out my schooling and cannot say he was gay or not. I can say from what I read his work was his love of his life. His life was learning and teaching others. There were many books that tried to state that he was gay and was in grossed in his work because of the Catholic Church condemning homosexuality. I don't think anyone will ever know the truth but I don't see it really matters gay or straight he was a great man.

Maybe he was one of those oddities that loved animals or could not find an equal because he only loved himself, or even didn't find his equal because he didn't understand love or emotion there are a lot of great people that have that problem still today. Maybe he had no sexual desirer it could happen even in men.

[DoctorP]

I studied Leonardo De Vinci through out my schooling and cannot say he was gay or not. I can say from what I read his work was his love of his life. His life was learning and teaching others. There were many books that tried to state that he was gay and was in grossed in his work because of the Catholic Church condemning homosexuality. I don't think anyone will ever know the truth but I don't see it really matters gay or straight he was a great man.

Maybe he was one of those oddities that loved animals or could not find an equal because he only loved himself, or even didn't find his equal because he didn't understand love or emotion there are a lot of great people that have that problem still today. Maybe he had no sexual desirer it could happen even in men.

Yes, I have been reading many works that stated "perhaps" he was gay. I am merely stating what other authors have said in the past, not calling him anything myself. I chose to study him for his brilliance, and was shocked to see so much written about his sexuality.

My last post was not meant to incite anyone, but I did want to discuss Frued's accusation or assumption that the lack of a father figure could help cultivate a homosexual tendency. A lot of the reading I have done lately has been quite interesting.

[perfect10]

Yes, I have been reading many works that stated "perhaps" he was gay. I am merely stating what other authors have said in the past, not calling him anything myself. I chose to study him for his brilliance, and was shocked to see so much written about his sexuality.

My last post was not meant to incite anyone, but I did want to discuss Frued's accusation or assumption that the lack of a father figure could help cultivate a homosexual tendency. A lot of the reading I have done lately has been quite interesting.

I didn't mean to say that you were wrong in anyway with your question just stated my feelings on the matter. I write very directly to much time writing in the Air Force I guess. But I have know many men that had never knew there father or even have a father figure in there lives but did not turnout gay. I have also known men that had a great father figure in there lives can't say anything bad about there father but are gay.
I saw some research that shows that there may be a genetic link to homosexuality. Don't know how far they have come with the research, but I had a friend involved in the study but they rather put him on hold because he has an XYX chromosome. I don't understand it all myself...But I feel it has a lot to do with the culture, look at the Emirates they believe men are for fun women or for children....

[ryukyuboi]

I am sure that it does not matter the sexuality of da Vinci. I do recognize that many believe he was homosexual.

I think Freud's theory concerning the lack of a father figure is bogus. I believe sexuality is genetically determined (nature). The values of a culture determine if the sexuality is accepted or not. (nurture).

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

There is this to consider...



To many, the idea of Einstein having 10 mistresses does not fit the classical image of the great, remote genius. Why was he wasting his valuable time with the exhausting business of conducting a string of illicit affairs - affairs that would cause havoc with his family life, damaging especially his relationship with his sons?

The answer is that he, like many other intensely creative men, was over-endowed with one of the human male's most characteristic qualities: the joy of risk-taking.

Every creative act, every new formula, every ground-breaking innovation, is an act of rebellion that may - if successful - destroy an old, existing concept. So every time a brilliant mind sees a new possibility, it is faced with a moment of supreme risk-taking.

The new formula, the new invention, may not work. It may turn out to be a disaster. But the man of genius - such as Einstein - has the courage to plough ahead, despite the dangers, both on and off the intellectual field.

Not that Einstein is by any means an isolated instance. Indeed, far from being the exception he is closer to the norm where great men and sex are concerned.

During a presidential visit to Britain, John F. Kennedy once shocked an elderly Harold Macmillan when he complained to him that if he didn't have sex with a woman every day he suffered from severe headaches.

Kennedy was insatiable and impatient. He was reported to make love with one eye on the clock and to be through with a girl as soon as he had had sex with her in three different ways. If possible, he preferred two girls at once and seduced almost every young woman he met, from starlets to socialites, secretaries to stewardesses. Oh yes, and not forgetting strippers. But then the compulsion in dominant males to take the highest of risks - a compulsion that seems to be innate - is one that dates back to prehistoric times.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1684210/posts

Many brillant men do seem to have their James Brown on :)

[DougP]

Good read eel:thumbup1:

[GoochBomber]

SO then basically, since straight men put so much effort into sex, we should all be porn stars and be relished like da vinci in our sexual arts.

[okisteve]

SO then basically, since straight men put so much effort into sex, we should all be porn stars and be relished like da vinci in our sexual arts.

Yeah. What he said.