Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy. At age 17, he moved to Florence with his father. In 1472, he became a member of the painter's guild of Florence.  There he had contact with other great Florentine artists such as Michelangelo Buonarroti.
In 1481, Leonardo left Florence for Milan. It was at this time that he painted the "Madonna of the Rocks" and the "Last Supper." In 1499, Leonardo departed Milan, traveling through Mantua, to Venice, where he dealt with architecture from 1495 to 1499.  In 1502 he was a military engineer for Cesare Borgia. Later, Leonardo returned to Florence. During 1503 and 1506, while working in Florence, he painted classics such as the "Mona Lisa."
        Although da Vinci was a great thinker who helped spur the Renaissance.  However, his ideas also influenced the Enlightenment.  His creativity, such as sketches for flying machines, his interest in the universe, and his interest in anatomy, such as his Porportions of a Man,  made everyone curious as to what the world truly was about.  A man truly ahead of his time, da Vinci's genius in art, science and engineering have earned him a place among the most intelligent and influencial men in history.

Works by da Vinci

The drawings of Leonardo da Vinci
Paintings by da Vinci