Vincent, William, D.D., a learned English di- vine, was born in Loudon, Nov. 2, 1739. He ])assed through every gradation of the School of Westminster, and in 1757 was elected scholar of Trinity College, Cam- bridge. In 17t)'2 he returned to Westminster as teach- er, and in that capacity he proceeded from the lowest to the highest situation, becoming liually dean in 1802. His literary work is extensive, and he did much in moulding the higher thought of his time. He died Dec. 21, 1815. For his writings, which chiefly relate to antiquarian and philological subjects, see AUibone, Die/, oj' Brit, and A mer. A iithors, s. v.
Vincentian Congregation is a brotherhood or association of secular priests, ulio. althougli not strictly a religious order, are bound by vows, and are especially devoted to preaching ami hearing confession among the poor. They are so called from their founder, the Ro- man Catholic saint, Vincent de Paul (q. v.). Another object is to undertake the direction of episcopal semi- naries and other colleges for the education of ecclesias- tics, and to direct the annual devotional exercises of the secular clergy.
Tlie name Viiicenfidn is also sometimes given to oth- er associations founded by Vincent de Paul. Of these there are several sisterlioods, that of Charity being the most remarkable, and the Charitable Lay Association, which has numerous branches iu all Koman Catholic countries.
Vinci, Leonardo da, an illustrious Italian artist, was born in Lower Valdarno, at the Castle of Vinci, in 1452. He was the natural son of Pietro da Vinci, but his mother is not known. At an early ags he evinced rare aliilities for everything he turned his attention to, but more particidarl)' for arithmetic, music, and draw- ing. His drawings apjieared something wonderful to his father, who showed them to Andrea Verocchio (q. v.), and that master, greatly surprised at the merit displayed in so young a hand, willingly took Leonardo as his pupil. His astonishment was greatly increased when he saw tiie progress made by his pupil; he felt liis own inferiority, and, when he saw how far lie was surpassed by young Da Vinci, relinquished painting en- tirely. Tlie tirst original work by Leonardo was the Rdtella del Fico (round board of a tig-tree), upon which his father requested him to paint something for one of Ids tenants. Leonardo wished to astonish his father, and determined to paint something extraordinary, that should represent the head of Medusa. Accordinglv, having prepared the rulella and covered it with plas- ter, he collected almost every kind of reptile, and com- posed a monster of most horrible aspect; it seemed alive, its eyes Hashed tire, and it appeared to breathe destruction from its open mouth. His father was in- deed astonished, and carried the picture to a dealer in Florence, sold it for a hundred ducats, and bought an ordinary piece for a tritle to give to his tenant. His talents soon attracted attention at Florence. He was ])osscssed of remarkable intellectual powers. He was a diligent and successful student of painting, sculpture, architecture, mathematics, mechanics, hy<lrostatics, mu- sic, poetry, botany, and astronomy, besides numerous manly sports. To this intellectual power he joined ele- gance of features and manners. He was affable witli strangers, with citizens, with private individuals, and with princes. Such a combination of qualities iu a sin- gle individual soon gained him a reputation throughout all Italv.
Da Vinci's life is divided by Lanzi into four periods.
the jirst of which includes the time he remained at Florence, until 1491. He was a diligent student of his art, ami endeavoreil to perfect his designs rather than to multiply his pictures. Hy his knowledge of sculpt- ure he gave that perfect relief and roundness then want- ing in tlie art of painting, and he imparted such grace and spirit to all his works tliat he fairly earned the title of Fatlier of Modern Painting. To this period may be referred the Medusa; the Magdalen, in the Florentine Gallery ; some Madonnas and /Joli/ Families, in the Giustiniani and Borghese galleries; and others. He also executed several important sculptures, among which are the statue of «^7. Tommaso, in Orsan Michele, at Flor- ence; the Horse, in the Church of Sts. Giovanni and Paolo, at Venice; besides other itnportant models.
The second period commences with Da Vinci's resi- dence at Milan, which began by invitation of the duke, Lodovico Sforza, in 1494. He was appointed director of the Academy of Painting, which had lately been re- vived. In this capacity he banished all the dry Gothic princi[iles formerly established, and introduced the beau- tiful simplicity and purity of the Grecian and Komaii style. The duke engaged him in the stupendous proj- ect of conducting the waters of the Adda from Morte- sana, through the Valteline and the valley of the Chia- venna, to the walls of Milan, a distance of nearly two hundred miles. He applied himself with such diligence to the preparation for and execution of the work that it was accomplished, greatly to the astonishment of all Italy. He executed the model for a colossal bronze equestrian statue of the duke's father, Francesco Sforza, but could not complete it on account of the tinancial em- barrassment of the duke, two hundred thousand pounds of metal being retiuired. It was here, also, that he ex- ecuted his celebrated painting, the Lust Supper, on a wall of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie at Mi- lan. This has been considered the masterpiece, not only of Leonardo, but of all masters. Unfortiuiately it was executed in fresco with a new combination of ma- terials, so that in half a century after its execution it was greatly defacetl. Numerous copies have been made which retain much of the spirit of the original. In 1500 Lodovico Sforza was overthrown in battle by the French, and made prisoner. Leonardo was, on this ac- count, oblined to abandon all his possessions and take refuge in Florence.