Leonardo da Vinci, a pivotal figure in the world of art and science.
Early Years and Education
Da Vinci was born in 1452 in Tuscany, Italy, and is known as an artist, inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician, physicist, and musician. At the young age of 14, he became an apprentice to the sculptor, painter, and goldsmith Andrea del Verrocchio, one of the leading artists in Florence. By the age of 20, da Vinci had completed his apprenticeship and could thus call himself a master.
Artistic Career
His detailed and realistic style, combined with his ability to portray light and shadow, has made his works some of the most famous and admired in the world. His most renowned works include The Last Supper (1483), which hangs today in the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery in Milan, Italy, and Mona Lisa (1503-1507), which is displayed in the Louvre, Paris. In recent years, the Mona Lisa has been subjected to several attacks at the Louvre, which are usually not related to the artwork itself but are used merely to attract attention.
Scientific Career
In addition to his artistic talent, da Vinci was also a gifted scientist, and his work has had a significant impact on the development of anatomy, astronomy, botany, geology, and physics. He sketched plans for several inventions hundreds of years before they were actually invented, such as the helicopter, a tank, and a diving suit.
Da Vinci's Legacy
Da Vinci spent his final years in France, working at the court of Francis I, where he later died in 1519 at the age of 67. He left behind art and notebooks filled with sketches, scientific diagrams, and personal thoughts that provide a unique insight into his genius mind. To this day these notebooks, like his artworks, continues to be studied and admired.