Are the Turtles named improperly?

[Chabrendeki]

As we all know, the Tutles are named after renaissance artist. The question, I asked myself was: is there any link between the artist and the turtle, besides their names?

I've read some books about them, first of all te "Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects" from Giorgio Vasari, a contemporary and friend of Michelangelo Buanorotti.

And then I had this idea, that - the life and habit of the artist in mind - the turtles are perhaps named inproperly.

Please do not take this too serious! I just find, this is an interesting mindgame...

Let's see:

Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi aka Donatello was the oldest of the four, already dead before Michelangelo and Raphael were born. So he was kind of a leader figure in sculpting (together with his friend Brunelleschi). Because of this he was more conservative then the others.
Aren't you remembered on the turtle Leo?

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was the second oldest. He wasn't just an artist - he was an inventor, a technical genius.
Okay, that's totally Donnie for me!

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was the third oldest. He was a very tempered man. There are a lot of stories, about his anger, and about to refusing to work. And he was a very introverted person too...
Isn't that Raph?

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino was the youngest. Vasari says about him, that he was a very kind person, almost angelic. He was light-hearted and very friendly.
That fits for Mikey, doesn't it?

Okay... I mean, Splinter couldn't know how the turtles will be, after they grow up, but it's still bugging me.

What do you mean?

[Candy Kappa]

I think there was a thread about this once before, but I don't remember how much buzz that got.

But, yeah. Totally, if the Turtles was named by the artists matching personality, this would have been more appropriate.

Like, the real Michelangelo was not a Party Dude he was a really angry grump.

[Davetello]

Very interesting thread. I knew about the arists the boys were named after, but other than Leonardo da Vinci I knew nothing about their respective personalities. To be fair to Kevin and Peter I doubt they thought about it THAT deeply at the time. After all, the first issue was a parody and they weren't expecting it to last 30 weeks, never mind 30 years

[IndigoErth]

Ok, maybe it's a little mixed up if named after the painters, but at least no one own a name or sets the standard of behavior for it. And at least Mikey redeemed the name from his namesake. lol

[Casey]

I have never thought of that before! So interesting!

[ProactiveMan]

Yeah, but is anyone named appropriately? We are named before our personalities or vocations are apparent, so our parents just pick one.

So logically, Splinter gave the turtles names before he knew who they were, and the same is probably true of Eastman and Laird.

[Prowler]

I only knew what Da Vinci's personality was like before click this thread.

I don't think it's much of a big deal, and I also doubt Laird and Eastman cared enough to do some research about it. After all, they didn't expect TMNT to go past the 1st issue, did they?

[oldmanwinters]

"Yeah, all the good ones end in O!"

[Chabrendeki]

Originally Posted by ProactiveMan

Yeah, but is anyone named appropriately? We are named before our personalities or vocations are apparent, so our parents just pick one.

So logically, Splinter gave the turtles names before he knew who they were, and the same is probably true of Eastman and Laird.

Yes, you're right. I had the same thought about Splinter, an I could imagine too, that the same is true of Eastman & Laird too.

[Chabrendeki]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

"Yeah, all the good ones end in O!"

Like in Raffaello?

In the hungarian translations there is always the italian name used, so at us all turtle names end with "O"...

[DevilSpooky]

The most interesting thing in this is not that they where all named improperly, it's that somehow these 4 men had the same personality traits as 4 turtles that ended up being named after them.

Coincidence? Or was that the plan all along?

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by Chabrendeki

Like in Raffaello?

Raph, I have decided your new nickname is now Ello. Go ahead and be mad at it, it's kinda cute when you're mad.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Originally Posted by Chabrendeki

As we all know, the Tutles are named after renaissance artist. The question, I asked myself was: is there any link between the artist and the turtle, besides their names?

I've read some books about them, first of all te "Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects" from Giorgio Vasari, a contemporary and friend of Michelangelo Buanorotti.

And then I had this idea, that - the life and habit of the artist in mind - the turtles are perhaps named inproperly.

Please do not take this too serious! I just find, this is an interesting mindgame...

Let's see:

Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi aka Donatello was the oldest of the four, already dead before Michelangelo and Raphael were born. So he was kind of a leader figure in sculpting (together with his friend Brunelleschi). Because of this he was more conservative then the others.
Aren't you remembered on the turtle Leo?

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was the second oldest. He wasn't just an artist - he was an inventor, a technical genius.
Okay, that's totally Donnie for me!

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was the third oldest. He was a very tempered man. There are a lot of stories, about his anger, and about to refusing to work. And he was a very introverted person too...
Isn't that Raph?

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino was the youngest. Vasari says about him, that he was a very kind person, almost angelic. He was light-hearted and very friendly.
That fits for Mikey, doesn't it?

Okay... I mean, Splinter couldn't know how the turtles will be, after they grow up, but it's still bugging me.

What do you mean?

Ah, I see you've done your homework. I will add to this and say that da Vinci did a painting in which he actually painted his, Raphael's, and Michelangelo's portraits into the painting as ancient Greek philosophers. (It's called "The School of Athens".) At the time he did that work, all three were alive and at the height of their popularity and talent. His own image is right in the center, as Plato, no less. (A bit of ego showing here, I think....) Raphael can be seen on the far right (I forget whom he is painted as) looking young and up-beat, speaking with a couple of others he is walking with. (He's the one with the light, curly hair.) Michelangelo is sitting alone next to a stone block on the left, looking rather morose. I believe he is depicting Socrates, but I could be mistaken.

Also, Michelangelo wrote poetry and was an architect as well as a painter and (primarily) a sculptor. He was also reputed to be gay, as was da Vinci. Just a few fun facts!

[victory_angel]

Maybe Splinter had been playing with names for them but none of them really fit. Or he had ideas for them duo to their behavior when they had just been baby turtles.

For example Leonardo means Lion Bold, or Strong like a Lion. So perhaps Splinter could see Leonardo as a lion hearted leader and gave him a name that reflected that.

Donatello and Brunelleschi were the fathers of the Renaissance. And of the Turtles Donatello has the most potential to not only create a world that could learn to accept them a people but other races as well. That was vaguely hinted at in Fast Forward.

Michelangelo being the party dude likes having a good time. He also likes to see the best in everything. When one of his brothers are down and upset he tries to cheer them up. And he is a real creative spirit so he's a reimagining of Michelangelo the artist.

So that left Raphael. Most of the people I've known with that name have had tempermental problems. And Raph sounds like Wrath.

[Venom]

Quick, someone shop a pic with the Turtles wearing the respective colors as described!

Leo - purple
Mike - red
Raph - orange
Don - blue

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by Chabrendeki

As we all know, the Tutles are named after renaissance artist. The question, I asked myself was: is there any link between the artist and the turtle, besides their names?.......

THANK YOU!

This is one of those rare posts here, where someone actually adds something creative and interesting to the conversation.

Top marks for this post!

I like how you think!

[Chabrendeki]

Originally Posted by MsMarvelDuckie

Ah, I see you've done your homework. I will add to this and say that da Vinci did a painting in which he actually painted his, Raphael's, and Michelangelo's portraits into the painting as ancient Greek philosophers. (It's called "The School of Athens".) At the time he did that work, all three were alive and at the height of their popularity and talent. His own image is right in the center, as Plato, no less. (A bit of ego showing here, I think....) Raphael can be seen on the far right (I forget whom he is painted as) looking young and up-beat, speaking with a couple of others he is walking with. (He's the one with the light, curly hair.) Michelangelo is sitting alone next to a stone block on the left, looking rather morose. I believe he is depicting Socrates, but I could be mistaken.

Also, Michelangelo wrote poetry and was an architect as well as a painter and (primarily) a sculptor. He was also reputed to be gay, as was da Vinci. Just a few fun facts!

Yes, I know this painting. It's one of my favourites! And Raphael did it...

Yes - Michelangelo and poetry - there we have a connection to the turtle! (I just don't wanted to mention this in my first post... because it's a contra-argument to me )

[Chabrendeki]

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

THANK YOU!

This is one of those rare posts here, where someone actually adds something creative and interesting to the conversation.

Top marks for this post!

I like how you think!

Thanks, that's really kind!

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Originally Posted by Chabrendeki

Yes, I know this painting. It's one of my favourites! And Raphael did it...

Yes - Michelangelo and poetry - there we have a connection to the turtle! (I just don't wanted to mention this in my first post... because it's a contra-argument to me )

It was Raphael? Oops. I could have sworn that was one of Leo's. My bad. Been a long time since I read up on Renaissance art. It's my favorite time period (sort of like Splinter, lol!) and I absolutely adore Michelangelo's sculptural work. David, of course, and the Pieta, but I'm also partial to his Moses and the figure of Night from the same tomb. His slaves (all three) are really amazing considering they were never finished. But I love his painting just as much, particularly the first three panels of the Sistine ceiling. Last Judgment is also incredible, is slightly disturbing.

Interestingly, much of da Vinci's inventing work was done at the behest of his patrons, who tended to want to use his ideas for war. Leonardo drew plans for the first tank, helicopter, and a crude form of diving bell, all of which were originally designed with warfare in mind. There's your connection to TMNT Leo!

[Shred87]

VEry interesting...thanks for starting this...look foward to reading everyones opinions