Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci
Born	15 April 1452
Died	2 May 1519
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Painter; engineer; anatomist; architect; natural philosopher
Known for	Renaissance art; scientific notebooks; anatomical studies
Notable work	Mona Lisa; The Last Supper; Vitruvian Man

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was an Italian artist, engineer, and natural philosopher of the Renaissance, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western intellectual history. His work encompassed painting, drawing, anatomy, engineering, architecture, optics, and mechanics, reflecting an integrated approach to inquiry in which art and science were not sharply separated.

Leonardo is best known as a painter, particularly for works such as Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. However, a substantial portion of his surviving legacy consists of notebooks containing observations, sketches, and theoretical explorations across a wide range of subjects.

Early life

Leonardo was born in 1452 in Vinci, in what is now Tuscany, Italy. He was the illegitimate son of a notary and a peasant woman. His formal education was limited, but he received basic instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic.

As a young man, Leonardo entered an apprenticeship in Florence in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, where he learned painting, sculpture, drawing, and technical crafts.

Artistic work

Leonardo’s paintings are characterized by careful study of human anatomy, subtle modeling of light and shadow, and attention to naturalistic detail. He developed techniques that allowed for gradual transitions between forms, contributing to a sense of depth and realism.

Among his most well-known works are:

• The Last Supper
• Mona Lisa
• The Virgin of the Rocks

Many projects planned by Leonardo were never completed, and the number of fully finished paintings attributed to him is relatively small.

Scientific and technical studies

Leonardo conducted extensive studies of anatomy, often through direct dissection. His anatomical drawings document muscles, bones, organs, and proportions with exceptional detail for the period.

He also investigated:

• mechanics and motion
• hydraulics and water flow
• optics and light
• botany and geology
• flight and aerodynamics

These studies were recorded in notebooks combining text and illustrations. They were not systematically published during his lifetime.

Engineering and invention

Leonardo produced designs for machines such as bridges, lifting devices, fortifications, and conceptual flying machines. Many of these designs were exploratory and theoretical rather than intended for immediate construction.

His engineering work reflects an effort to understand underlying principles rather than to produce finished inventions in a modern industrial sense.

Method and approach

Leonardo emphasized direct observation and empirical study. Drawing functioned as a primary analytical tool, allowing him to examine structure, proportion, and function visually.

He did not sharply distinguish artistic practice from scientific investigation, treating both as methods of understanding the natural world.

Later life

In later years, Leonardo worked for several Italian courts and eventually entered the service of Francis I of France. He spent his final years in France, continuing to study and organize his notes.

Leonardo died in 1519.

Legacy

Leonardo da Vinci’s influence extends across art, science, and cultural history. His paintings remain widely studied, while his notebooks provide insight into Renaissance approaches to observation and knowledge.

He is often described as a polymath, though his work is better understood as the result of sustained inquiry rather than universal mastery. Interpretations of his significance vary depending on whether emphasis is placed on artistic achievement, scientific observation, or symbolic status within Western culture.