1452-1519

Italian Painter and Inventor

Leonardo da Vinci was the quintessential figure of the Italian Renaissance, and one of the most versatile geniuses who ever lived. His artistic accomplishments alone, including some of the most famous paintings in the world, would have made his name immortal. Yet he was also an inventor whose ideas were hundreds of years before his time. His technical drawings and careful scientific observations were preserved in notebooks that give a fascinating glimpse into one of history's most creative minds.

Leonardo was born near Florence, Italy, on April 15, 1452. He was the illegitimate son of a peasant girl named Caterina and a prosperous notary, Ser Piero da Vinci, who came from a well-to-do family. Leonardo was brought up by his father from the age of five, but the circumstances of his birth meant that many careers considered prestigious at the time...