Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian polymath whose areas of interest included invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography. He is widely considered one of the greatest artists of all time, with his works epitomizing the Renaissance humanist ideal.
Born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, in the region of Florence, Leonardo was the illegitimate son of Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, a Florentine legal notary, and Caterina, a peasant woman. His father took custody of him shortly after his birth.
Leonardo's artistic training began in the studio of Andrea del Verrocchio, where he was exposed to both artistic and technical skills. Among his early works, he contributed to Verrocchio's The Baptism of Christ, painting the angel holding Jesus' robe. Leonardo's first independent works were in Florence, including the Adoration of the Magi, which he left unfinished.
His most famous works include:
Leonardo's notebooks reveal a man obsessed with understanding the natural world. His scientific inquiries encompassed:
Leonardo's contributions to art and science have been profound:
Leonardo spent his last years in France at the invitation of King Francis I of France. He died on May 2, 1519, at the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise. His legacy continued to grow after his death as his works were rediscovered and his notebooks were studied.