Leonardo da Vinci

Who is Leonardo da Vinci?

Leonardo da Vinci was a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, and inventor born near Vinci in Tuscany, and a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He is celebrated for paintings such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, which are among the most famous artworks in history. Beyond painting, Leonardo filled thousands of notebook pages with studies of anatomy, geology, botany, hydraulics, optics, and flight, revealing a mind that fused art and science. His designs anticipated inventions such as flying machines and armored vehicles, though most were never built in his lifetime. He worked for patrons including the Sforza court in Milan and later moved to France at the invitation of King Francis I, where he spent his final years. His approach to observation, experimentation, and interdisciplinary curiosity made him an enduring symbol of the 'Renaissance man'.

Sources: Walter Isaacson, Leonardo da Vinci (2017) · Kenneth Clark, Leonardo da Vinci (1939) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, entry 'Leonardo da Vinci'