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Leonardo da Vinci

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Leonardo da Vinci was a celebrated Italian polymath of the High Renaissance.

600-artist-palette
600-artist-palette

A polymath is a person who has deep knowledge in many different subjects. Leonardo was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. He is widely considered a genius who represented the Renaissance humanist ideal. His collective works helped develop European art to a level rivaled only by Michelangelo.

Firma de Leonardo Da Vinci
Firma de Leonardo Da Vinci

While his fame began with his painting, he is also famous for his extensive notebooks. These books contain detailed drawings and notes on subjects like anatomy, astronomy, botany, and palaeontology.

Leonardo's life began in or near the Tuscan hill town of Vinci, Italy.

Geburtshaus von Leonardo da Vinci in Vinci (Toskana)
Geburtshaus von Leonardo da Vinci in Vinci (Toskana)

He was born on 15 April 1452 to Ser Piero, a legal notary, and Caterina, a woman from the lower class. Because he was born out of wedlock, his early life remains somewhat mysterious. He likely spent his earliest years in the care of his mother in the hamlet of Anchiano. Leonardo received only a basic, informal education in reading, writing, and mathematics. This was likely because his family chose to focus on his developing artistic talents instead.

Museo leonardiano di vinci, 04
Museo leonardiano di vinci, 04

Around age 14, Leonardo entered the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence.

Annunciation (Leonardo c. 1472–1476)
Annunciation (Leonardo c. 1472–1476)

He served as a garzone, or studio boy, before becoming an apprentice at age 17. He trained there for seven years, learning a wide range of technical skills. These included drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, mechanics, and woodwork, alongside drawing and sculpting. Leonardo even collaborated with Verrocchio on the painting *The Baptism of Christ*. In this work, Leonardo used new oil paint techniques on the landscape and figures. His skill was so great that some say Verrocchio never painted again after seeing it.

By the year 1472, Leonardo had qualified as a master in the Guild of Saint Luke.

Adoration of the Magi (Leonardo)
Adoration of the Magi (Leonardo)

He eventually moved to Milan to serve Ludovico Sforza. During his first Milanese period, which lasted from roughly 1482 to 1499, he worked on many important projects. He was commissioned to paint *The Last Supper* for the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. He also painted the *Virgin of the Rocks* for a religious confraternity. Beyond painting, he served as a consultant for building projects and designed models for large monuments. He even traveled to Hungary to meet King Matthias Corvinus.

Leonardo's artistic legacy includes some of the most influential works in Western history.

Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, from C2RMF retouched
Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, from C2RMF retouched

The *Mona Lisa* is regarded as the world's most famous individual painting.

Lady with an Ermine - Leonardo da Vinci (adjusted levels)
Lady with an Ermine - Leonardo da Vinci (adjusted levels)

He also created the *Vitruvian Man*, which has become a major cultural icon.

Da Vinci Vitruve Luc Viatour (cropped)
Da Vinci Vitruve Luc Viatour (cropped)

Some of his works reached incredible financial value in modern times. In 2017, the painting *Salvator Mundi*, which is attributed to him, sold for US$450.3 million. This sale set a new record for the most expensive painting ever sold at a public auction.

Leonardo was also a man of great technological ingenuity.

Noun-technology
Noun-technology

He conceptualized many advanced machines, such as flying machines and armored fighting vehicles.

Leonardo da Vinci - 1860,0616.99, Studies of military tank-like machines (cropped)
Leonardo da Vinci - 1860,0616.99, Studies of military tank-like machines (cropped)

He also designed a machine for concentrated solar power and a ratio machine for adding numbers. While many of these designs were not feasible during the Renaissance, some smaller inventions were used. For example, he created an automated bobbin winder and a machine to test the strength of wire. He made significant discoveries in fields like hydrodynamics, geology, and optics.

Despite his many discoveries, Leonardo did not publish his scientific findings.

Leonardo da Vinci - Plan of Imola - Google Art Project
Leonardo da Vinci - Plan of Imola - Google Art Project

Because of this, his research had little to no direct influence on the science that followed him. However, his notebooks remain a testament to his empirical thinking and curiosity. He connected the study of the natural world with the practice of art. His life shows how observing the mechanics of nature can inspire both science and beauty. Even centuries after his death in 1519, his diverse interests continue to inspire admiration.

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🖼️ Images & Media (48)
File:Coat of arms of the House Of Medici.svg
Coat of arms of the House Of Medici.svg
File:600-artist-palette.svg
600-artist-palette.svg
File:Firma de Leonardo Da Vinci.svg
Firma de Leonardo Da Vinci.svg
File:Noun-technology.svg
Noun-technology.svg
File:GClef.svg
GClef.svg
File:Leonardo da Vinci - Ginevra de' Benci - Google Art Project.jpg
Leonardo da Vinci - Ginevra de' Benci -...
File:Leonardo da Vinci - Saint John the Baptist C2RMF retouched.jpg
Leonardo da Vinci - Saint John the...
File:Annunciation (Leonardo c. 1472–1476).jpg
Annunciation (Leonardo c. 1472–1476).jpg
File:Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, from C2RMF retouched.jpg
Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, from...
File:Leonardo da Vinci - Plan of Imola - Google Art Project.jpg
Leonardo da Vinci - Plan of Imola -...
File:Adoration of the Magi (Leonardo).jpg
Adoration of the Magi (Leonardo).jpg
File:Leonardo da Vinci - Virgin and Child with Ss Anne and John the Baptist.jpg
Leonardo da Vinci - Virgin and Child with...

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