Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Legend has it that King Francis was at his side when he died, cradling Leonardo's head in his arms.

He was the son of 25-year-old, Ser Piero, and a peasant girl named Caterina. Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, just outside Florence. His father took custody of the him shortly after his birth, while his mother married someone else and moved to a neighboring town. The parents kept on having kids, although not with each other, and they eventually gave Leonardo a total of 17 half sisters and brothers. Leonardo died on May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France.

Growing up in his father's Vinci home, Leonardo had access to scholarly texts owned by family and friends. He was also exposed to Vinci's longstanding painting tradition, and when he was about 15 his father apprenticed him to the renowned workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence from 1470 to 1477. He entered the service of the Duke of Milan in 1482.He spent 17 years in Milan, leaving only after Duke Ludovico Sforza's fall from power in 1499. It was during these years that Leonardo hit his stride, reaching new heights of scientific and artistic achievement.

Leonardo was so engrossed in a variety of studies that he only completed 6 pieces in a 17 year period. He spent most of his time studying science. Between 1490 and 1495 he developed his habit of recording his studies in meticulously illustrated notebooks. His work covered four main themes: painting, architecture, the elements of mechanics, and human anatomy.

From 1485 to 1490, Leonardo produced a studies on loads of subjects, including nature, flying machines, geometry, mechanics, municipal construction, canals and architecture (designing everything from churches to fortresses). His studies from this period contain designs for advanced weapons, including a tank and other war vehicles, various combat devices, and submarines. Also during this period, Leonardo produced his first anatomical studies.

For 16 years starting from1499, Leonarda searched for work throughout Italy and secured jobs such as a military engineer under Cesare Borgia and was granted commisions to paint various works. From 1513 to 1516, he worked in Rome, maintaining a workshop and undertaking a variety of projects for the Pope. Following the death of his patron Giuliano de' Medici in March of 1516, he was offered the title of Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of the King by Francis I in France. His last and perhaps most generous patron

Sources: Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ9ar3X_u1k Pictures: Last supper- http://www.penwith.co.uk/artofeurope/leonardo_da_vinci_last_supper.jpg Bones study- http://science.kukuchew.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/leonardo-da-vinci-bones.gif Portrait- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Leonardo_da_Vinci.jpeg Mona Lisa- http://www.ancientminds.com/GreatMinds/ldvinci/da-vinci-leonardo-mona-lisa.jpg Website: http://www.mos.org/leonardo/bio.html