Leonardo da Vinci
Who is Leonardo da Vinci?
Leonardo da Vinci (Vinci, Italy, April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519, Cloux, France) was an Italian Renaissance polymath: an architect, musician, anatomist, inventor, engineer, sculptor, geometer, and painter.
He has been described as the archetype of the 'Renaissance man' and as a universal genius, a man infinitely curious and infinitely inventive. He is also considered one of the greatest painters that ever lived.
In his lifetime, Leonardo - he had no surname in the modern sense; 'da Vinci' simply means 'from Vinci'. His full birth name was 'Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci', meaning 'Leonardo, of ser Piero from Vinci'.
His claim to fame
Leonardo is famous for his paintings, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as for influential drawings such as the Vitruvian Man. He designed many inventions that anticipated modern technology, such as the helicopter, tank, use of solar power, the calculator, etc., though few of these designs were constructed or were feasible in his lifetime.
In addition, he advanced the study of anatomy, astronomy, and civil engineering. Of his works, only a few paintings survive, together with his notebooks (scattered among various collections) containing drawings, scientific diagrams and notes.