When we think of the word ‘genius’, Leonardo da Vinci is one of the first names that comes to mind. He was a painter, sculptor, architect, musician and scientist all rolled into one. Even 500 years after his death, da Vinci’s name is synonymous with genius.
Born in 1452 in the Tuscan town of Vinci, da Vinci was the illegitimate son of a notary and a peasant woman. He was apprenticed to the artist Andrea del Verrocchio at the age of 14 and soon began to surpass his master.
In 1481, da Vinci began work on his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. He worked on the painting for four years, but it was never finished. The Mona Lisa is now the most famous painting in the world and hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
In 1502, da Vinci began working for Duke Ludovico Sforza of Milan. He painted a number of works for the Duke, including the Last Supper, a painting of the 12 disciples at the last supper.
After the Duke was overthrown in 1499, da Vinci spent time in Florence and then moved to Rome. He returned to Florence in 1513 and spent the last years of his life there. He died in 1519 at the age of 67.
Even today, hundreds of years after his death, da Vinci’s name is still synonymous with genius. He was a true renaissance man, who excelled in many different fields. He was a master painter, sculptor, architect, musician and scientist. His work has inspired generations of artists and his name will be forever associated with genius.
