Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. His mastery in art, science and engineering have earned him a place among the most prolific geniuses of history.      

He was one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, a period when the arts and sciences flourished.

At age 13, Leonardo and his father moved to Florence where he apprenticed to Verrocchio atelier in 1468. His brilliance soon eclipsed that of his master. In 1472 Leonardo became a member of the painter's guild of Florence, where he had contact with other great Florentine artists including Michelangelo Buonarroti.

In 1481 Leonardo left Florence for Milan to offer his service to the local Duke. During this period he painted the Virgin of the Rocks and the Last Supper. In 1499, Leonardo left Milan, travelling with his friend and collaborator Luca Pacioli through Mantua to the court of Isabella d'Este. Between 1495 to 1499, he consulted on architecture from 1495 to 1499 in Venice and between 1502 and 1503 he was a military engineer for Cesare Borgia.

* Leonardo's self-portrait - Bibiloteca Reale, Torino

Leonardo left Florence for Milan in 1506, although he returned in 1507-8 to fight for his inheritance from his uncle. In 1509 he returned to Milan and devoted much of his time to scientific studies, and to engineering projects such as channelling the course of the Adda river. In 1512, Leonardo left Milan again and from 1513 to 1516are Borgia. was in Rome under the protection of Giuliano de Medici, the brother of Pope Leo X. Here Leonardo came into contact with Michelangelo and another young rival, Raphael.

After the death of Giuliano de Medici, Leonardo accepted an invitation from French friends and moved to the castle of Cloux near Amboise, where he stayed with his faithful pupil Melzi until the end of his life. Leonardo died on May 2, 1519 and was buried in the cloister of San Fiorentino in Amboise.