LEONARDO
DA VINCI
Born on April 15,
1452, in Vinci, just outside Florence, Leonardo was the illegitimate
son of a 25-year-old notary, Ser Piero, and a peasant girl,
Caterina. Growing up in his father's Vinci home, Leonardo had
access to scholarly texts and 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,
where he was an apprentice until 1477 when he set up a shingle
for himself.
In search of new challenges and money, he entered the service
of the Duke of Milan in 1482, abandoning his first commission
in Florence, "The Adoration of the Magi". 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
reached new heights of scientific and artistic achievement,
painting and sculpting and designing elaborate court festivals
and designing weapons, buildings and machinery. 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.
After the invasion by the French and Ludovico Sforza's fall
from power in 1499, Leonardo was left to search for a new patron
and over the next 16 years, Leonardo worked and traveled throughout
Italy for a number of employers. About 1503, Leonardo reportedly
began work on the "Mona Lisa".
From 1513 to 1516, he worked in Rome, maintaining a workshop
and undertaking a variety of projects for the Pope. He continued
his studies of human anatomy and physiology, but the Pope forbade
him from dissecting cadavers.
Following the death of his patron Giuliano de' Medici in March
1516, he was offered the title of Premier Painter and Engineer
and Architect of the King by Francis I in France. Although suffering
from a paralysis of the right hand, Leonardo was still able
to draw and teach. He produced studies for the Virgin Mary from
"The Virgin and Child with St. Anne", studies of cats,
horses, dragons, St. George, anatomical studies, studies on
the nature of water, drawings of the Deluge, and of various
machines.
Leonardo died on May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France. Legend has it
that King Francis was at his side when he died, cradling Leonardo's
head in his arms.
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