A Renaissance Man

Polymath, a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas, has been my inspiration since my childhood.

A Renaissance man was trained to excel in all fields. The Renaissance ideal celebrated the pursuit of knowledge in diverse disciplines. This formed the basis of a rounded education, so essential for the holistic development of an individual's personality. No wonder he was described as Homo universalis or "man of the world". As typified by Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Raphael, Leon Battista Alberti and legions of some of the greatest minds in the history of mankind.  Renaisance men are the "universal geniuses".

The Renaissance (Italian: Rinascimento, from ri- "again" and nascere "be born") was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Florence in the Late middle ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. As a cultural movement, it encompassed a resurgence of learning based on classical sources, the development of linear perspective in painting, and gradual but widespread educational reform. Traditionally, this intellectual transformation has resulted in the Renaissance being viewed as a bridge between the Middle ages and the Modern Era. Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, as well as social and political upheaval, it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who inspired the term "Renaissance man".

A polymath (Greeck πολυμαθής, polymathēs, "having learned much") is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath (or polymathic person)
may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable. Most ancient scientists
were polymaths by today's standards.

The terms Renaissance man and, less commonly, Homo Universalis (Latin for "universal man" or "man of the world") are related and used to describe a person who is well educated or who excels in a wide variety
of subjects or fields. The idea developed in Renaissance Italy from the notion expressed by one of its most accomplished representatives, Leon Battista Alberti (1404–1472): that "a man can do all things if he will." It embodied the basic tenets of Renaissance humanism,
which considered humans empowered, limitless in their capacities for
development, and led to the notion that people should embrace all
knowledge and develop their capacities as fully as possible. Thus the gifted
people of the Renaissance sought to develop skills in all areas of
knowledge, in physical development, in social accomplishments, and in
the arts.

Renaissance ideal

Many notable polymaths lived during the Renaissance period, a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the late Middle Ages and later
spreading to the rest of Europe. They had a rounded approach to education which was typical of the ideals of the humanists of the time. A gentleman or courtier of that era was expected to speak several languages, play a musical instrument, write poetry, and so on, thus fulfilling the Renaissance ideal. The idea of a universal education was pivotal to achieving polymath ability, hence the word university.
was used to describe a seat of learning.This universal education, as such, gave them a grounding from which they could continue into apprenticeship to a Master
of a specific field. During the Renaissance, Baldassare Castiglione, in his The Book of the Courtier, wrote a guide on becoming a polymath.

Castiglione's guide stressed the kind of attitude that should accompany the many talents of a polymath, an attitude he called "sprezzatura". A courtier should have a detached, cool, nonchalant attitude, and speak well, sing, recite poetry, have proper bearing, be athletic, know the
humanities and classics, paint and draw and possess many other skills,
always without showy or boastful behavior, in short, with "sprezzatura".
The many talents of the polymath should appear to others to be
performed without effort, in an unstrained way, almost without thought.
In some ways, the gentlemanly requirements of Castiglione recall the Chinese sage, Confucius,
who far earlier depicted the courtly behavior, piety and obligations of
service required of a gentleman. The easy facility in difficult tasks
also resembles the effortlessness inculcated by Zen, such as in archery
where no conscious attention, but pure spontaneity,
produces better and more noble skill. For Castiglione, the attitude of
apparent effortlessness should accompany great skill in many separate
fields. In word or deed the courtier should "avoid affectation ... (and)
... practice ... a certain sprezzatura ... conceal all art and make
whatever is done or said appear to be without effort and almost without
any thought about it".

This Renaissance ideal differed slightly from the "polymath" in that it involved more than just intellectual advancement. Historically (roughly 1450–1600) it represented a person who endeavored to "develop
his capacities as fully as possible" (Britannica,
"Renaissance Man") both mentally and physically, and, as Castiglione
suggests, without "affectation". For example, being an accomplished
athlete was considered integral and not separate from education and
learning of the highest order. Leon Battista Alberti,
who was a Roman Catholic priest, architect, painter, poet, scientist,
mathematician, inventor, and sculptor, was in addition a skilled
horseman and archer.

The notable polymath was reputable in all fields, but the most common case is that the polymath made his reputation in one or two main fields where he had widely
recognized achievements, and that he was merely proficient or actively
involved in other fields, but, once again, not necessarily with
achievements comparable to those of renowned experts of his time in
these fields.

Source: WIKI