Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci was best known as an artist, who created many masterpieces. Some of his masterpieces are the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Sistine Chapel. Leonardo was also a sculpture, scientist, and many other great things. He was born in 1452 in a town called Vinci which is now located in Italy. His father was a notary who was very successful and his mother was a simple peasant woman. Leonardo and his father moved to Florence when he was twelve years old. His father realized his great artistic talents and he later got him an apprenticeship with the leading artist in the city, Andrea del Verrocchio. Under Del Verrocchio, Leonardo learnt to prepare the tools of a painter such as canvases and paint brushes. Later, he learnt to sculpt in wood, stone, and clay. He also learnt to cast metal objects in silver and gold under his apprenticeship.

Del Verrocchio allowed Leonardo to help him with the painting of the Baptism of Christ when he was only twenty-one. When Leonardo completed his apprenticeship he moved to the Republic of Florence to work for the famous Lorenzo de Medici, ruler of Florence. After some time in the Republic of Florence, Leonard moved to Milan in 1483. Seventeen years later, he moved back to Florence to head some engineering projects while Florence was at war with one of its neighbors. After the war ended, Leonardo took up painting again which he was best at compared to all his other talents. At this time, he completed the Mona Lisa. In 1506, Leonardo moved back to Milan .and later on was appointed court painted by King Louis XII of France.

In 1514, Leonardo moved to Rome and built many machines and toys for Prince Giuliano the Magnificent, brother of Pope Leo X. Leonardo studied optics and botany while he stayed in Rome. After his patron, Prince Giuliano, died in 1516 Leonardo moved to France for good. He was appointed "First painter, architect, and mechanic of the King" by King Francis I of France. Leonardo Da Vinci died on May 2, 1519 and buried in the palace's church. The church was later destroyed during the uprising ofthe French Revolution and sadly his grave location is unknown.

Leonardo was a painter and a sculptor. His best known masterpieces are the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, The Sistine Chapel, and Madonna of the Rocks. One story that many historians speculate about has to do with the painting of the Mona Lisa. It is believed that Leonardo was commissioned by a wealthy noble who wanted Leonardo to paint a portrait of his wife. How the story goes is that Leonardo kept the painting when he completed because he fell in love with the painting. He kept telling the person who commissioned him that the painting wasn't finish. In the story, Leonardo took it everywhere he traveled. The painting was later found with his possession after he died in France. Unfortunately, no one knows the true identity of the