Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo di Ser Piero da Vinci (Leonardo, Son of Ser Piero, of Vinci), was born the illegitimate son of a 25 year old notary named Ser Piero, and a peasant girl named Caterina, April 15th, 1452, in Vinci, Italy. Vinci was a small town located just outside Florence famous for its painters and by 1452 the Renaissance had hit its stride. After his birth, his father assumed responsibility for him though he was never recognized as a legitimate heir. Leonardo was brought up with the intensive scholarly study and artistic training common to the time for someone of his status.

Early on Leonardo's artistic gifts were apparent, and at the age of 15 he was apprenticed to the renowned workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. Leonardo's style can be found in several pieces produced by the Verrocchio's workshop from 1470 to 1475. By 1477 Leonardo was ready to set up his own shop. Leonardo spent the next 5 years establishing himself as a painter and an artist in Florence.

In 1482 he moved to Milan under the patronage of the Duke of Milan. The Duke had a voracious appetite for Leonardo's work and was a committed patron, sponsoring paintings, sculpture, parties, buildings, and weapons. It was during this time Leonardo began studying subjects ranging from anatomy, geometry, mechanics, architecture, in earnest. Leonardo's interests were far flung and he seemed to excel at anything he tried his hand at. Unfortunately, he showed little restraint following his interests and would often leave many works unfinished as he hastily moved on to new things.

After 1490 Leonardo began recording his studies in meticulously illustrated notebooks. His work consisted of Painting, Architecture, Mechanics, and Human anatomy. Though it's true that Leonardo wrote backwards, this might have been out of convenience as he was left handed. He spent 17 years in Milan, leaving only after the Duke Ludovico Sforza fell from power in 1499.

(Continued) With the death of his generous patron in 1499, Leonardo found himself adrift. The next 16 years were spent traveling through Italy, working for a number of employers. During this time he traveled as a military engineer with the army of Cesare Borgia, the princely inspiration of Machiavelli, whom Leonardo met. From 1513 to 1516 he worked in Rome, maintaining a workshop and undertaking a variety of projects for the Pope. During this time, the Pope forbid Leonardo's habit of dissecting cadavers, which hindered his studies of anatomy.

As a painter, Leonardo is most famous for the Mona Lisa and his portrayal of the The Last Supper. Leonardo's studies of anatomy led to pages and pages of insightful diagrams, not to mention the Vitruvian Man. War brought out Leonardo's mechanical abilities, going so far as to suggest the tank and helicopter 450 and 500 years respectively before their advent.

Following the death of his patron Giuliani de Medici in March of 1516, the King of France offered the position of Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of King Francis I. Leonardo accepted and lived a life of luxury till his death in May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France.

For more information about the works and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, check out the Codex Notebook online.

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