Leonardo da Vinci facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Leonardo da Vinci
Portrait of Leonardo by Melzi
Nationality	Italian
Education	Verrocchio
Known for	Arts and sciences
Notable work	Mona Lisa The Last Supper Lady with an Ermine Virgin of the Rocks The Vitruvian Man
Movement	High Renaissance

Patron(s)	King of France

Signature

Leonardo da Vinci (born April 15, 1452 – died May 2, 1519) was an amazing Italian person from the Renaissance period. He is most famous for his paintings. But he was also a scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician, and a writer.

Leonardo wanted to understand everything about nature. He wanted to know how everything worked. He was very good at studying, designing, and creating all sorts of interesting things.

Many people believe Leonardo was one of the greatest painters ever. Others think he was the most talented person who ever lived.

Leonardo was born in Vinci, a small town near Florence, Italy. He learned to be an artist from the sculptor and painter Verrocchio. He spent most of his life working for rich Italian noblemen. In his later years, he lived in a beautiful home given to him by the King of France.

Two of his pictures are among the most famous paintings in the world: the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He also made many drawings. His best-known drawing is Vitruvian Man. Leonardo often thought of new inventions. He kept notebooks filled with notes and drawings of these ideas. Most of his inventions were never built. Some of his ideas included a helicopter, a tank, a calculator, a parachute, a robot, a telephone, and solar power.

Leonardo's Life Story

Early Years (1452–1466)

Leonardo's childhood home in Anchiano, Vinci, Italy

Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452. This happened in the Tuscan hill town of Vinci, in the Arno River valley. His grandfather, Antonio da Vinci, wrote down the details of his birth. Leonardo's full name was "Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci." This means "Leonardo, the son of Mister Piero from Vinci."

Leonardo's earliest known drawing, the Arno Valley, 1473. It is in the Uffizi Gallery.

Leonardo lived with his mother for his first five years. She was not married to his father. Then he moved to Vinci to live with his father, his father's new wife Albiera, his grandparents, and his Uncle Francesco.

Leonardo started painting when he was a boy. Giorgio Vasari, a biographer (someone who writes about a person's life), wrote about Leonardo after he died. Vasari shared many stories about how clever Leonardo was. He said that Leonardo painted a round wooden shield with a picture of snakes spitting fire. Leonardo's father took this painting to Florence and sold it to an art dealer.

The Baptism of Christ (1472–1475) by Verrocchio and Leonardo. It is in the Uffizi.

Learning with Verrocchio (1466–1476)

In 1466, when Leonardo was fourteen, his father took him to Florence. There, he became an apprentice to the artist Verrocchio. An apprentice learns a skill by working for a master.

Florence was a very exciting place for young artists. Many famous artists had lived there. If an artist was lucky, they would find a rich patron. A patron is someone who buys many paintings. The wealthiest family in Florence was the Medici. They had a beautiful palace and loved buying art. They also liked studying literature and philosophy. Many young artists hoped to work for the Medici family.

Verrocchio had a large and busy workshop in Florence. Leonardo learned drawing, painting, sculpting, and model making. He also learned other useful skills. These included chemistry, metallurgy (working with metals), metal working, plaster casting, leather working, mechanics, and carpentry.

Leonardo was not the only young painter at Verrocchio's workshop. Other painters trained there or visited often. Some of them later became famous, like Ghirlandaio, Perugino, and Botticelli. These artists were only a few years older than Leonardo.

Giorgio Vasari tells a story from this time. Verrocchio was painting a large picture called The Baptism of Christ. He asked Leonardo to paint one of the angels holding Jesus' robe. Vasari said Leonardo painted the angel so beautifully that Verrocchio stopped painting forever. If you look closely at the painting, you can see that Leonardo might have painted other parts too. These include the rocks, the brown stream, and the background. Verrocchio also made a bronze statue of David around this time. Many people believe Leonardo was the model for this statue.

Around 1472, when he was twenty, Leonardo joined the Guild of St. Luke. This was a group for artists and doctors. Even after his father helped him set up his own workshop, Leonardo still liked working at Verrocchio's studio.

Working as an Artist (1476–1499)

The Adoration of the Magi, (1481) in the Uffizi Gallery

When Vasari wrote about Leonardo, he used words like "noble," "generous," "graceful," and "beautiful." Vasari said that as an adult, Leonardo was a tall and handsome man.

We don't know much about Leonardo's life between 1472 and 1481. He was likely busy in Florence. In 1478, he received an important job to paint an altarpiece for the Monks of San Donato a Scopeto. The painting was to be The Adoration of the Magi (The Three Wise Men). This painting was never finished. This is because Lorenzo Medici sent Leonardo to Milan as an ambassador.

Leonardo was a very talented musician. In 1482, he made a silver lyre (a musical instrument) shaped like a horse's head. At that time, there was a new ruler in Milan, in northern Italy. Duke Ludovico il Moro was making other rulers nervous. Lorenzo de Medici wanted Leonardo to give Ludovico the lyre as a gift from him. Leonardo stayed in Milan and worked for the Duke from 1482 to 1499. Part of his job was to design festivals and carnival parades. He didn't know then that he would be most remembered for his paintings.

Virgin of the Rocks, Louvre, possibly 1505–1508

The Gran Cavallo Statue

Leonardo da Vinci's sketch for Gran Cavallo, 1488

Leonardo's most important work for Duke Ludovico was to create a huge statue. It was to be of the previous ruler, Francesco Sforza, on horseback. Leonardo made a giant clay horse called the Gran Cavallo. It was meant to be cast in bronze. However, the bronze was needed to make cannons. This was because the French army was invading Milan. So, the statue was never finished.

The Virgin of the Rocks Painting

While working for Duke Ludovico, Leonardo received two important painting jobs. One was to create an oil painting for a large altarpiece. This was for the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. Leonardo painted this picture twice. He left one with the monks in Milan. He took the other painting to France, where it is now in the Louvre Museum. Both paintings are called The Virgin of the Rocks. They show the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus in a rocky, mysterious landscape. Mary and Jesus are meeting with John the Baptist. There is a story (not in the Bible, but a Christian tradition) about baby John and baby Jesus meeting on the way to Egypt. In this scene, John is praying, and baby Jesus raises his hand to bless John. The paintings have a strange light with soft, deep shadows. In the background, there is a lake and mountains in the mist. No painting like this had ever been done before.

The Last Supper Painting

The Last Supper (1498); Milan, Italy

Leonardo's other important painting in Milan is his most famous. It is The Last Supper. The painting shows the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples before he was captured. Leonardo chose to paint the moment when Jesus said, "one of you will betray me." Leonardo shows the surprise and upset this caused to Jesus' twelve followers. He tells the story through their actions and faces. Some are talking, some have stood up, and some are raising their hands in horror. Even though some paint has fallen off the wall, this painting is very popular. It is copied more than almost any other religious painting in the world.

Later Working Life (1499–1513)

Signature

In 1499, Ludovico il Moro was removed from power. Leonardo left Milan with his servant Salai and his friend, Luca Pacioli, who was a mathematician. They went to Venice. Leonardo worked as a military architect and engineer. Venice is a city built on many islands. So, Leonardo tried to find ways to protect the city from a naval attack.

In 1500, Leonardo returned to Florence. He brought his "household" of servants and apprentices with him. The monks from the monastery of The Holy Annunciation gave Leonardo a home and a large workshop. In 2005, some buildings used by the Department of Military Geography were being restored. The restorers found that part of the building was Leonardo's studio.

The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist (c. 1499–1500)

The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and John the Baptist

Leonardo started a new painting around 1499. He drew a large "cartoon." This means a detailed drawing that was a plan for the painting. The cartoon showed the Virgin Mary sitting on her mother's knee, Saint Anne. Mary holds baby Jesus. Jesus reaches out to his young cousin, John the Baptist. This drawing is now in the National Gallery, London. Even though it is old and faded, people visit the gallery every day just to see it. Like many of Leonardo's projects, this painting was never finished.

The Battle of Anghiari

This is a copy of Leonardo's painting of The Battle of Anghiari. The original was damaged and covered around 1560. This copy might be of the "cartoon" (outline) of the painting.

This is possibly a copy of Leonardo's work The Battle of Anghiari that was painted but unfinished.

In 1502 and 1503, Leonardo worked for Cesare Borgia. He was a powerful noble and the son of Pope Alexander VI. In late 1503, Leonardo returned to Florence. He rejoined the Guild of St Luke.

He was given a very important job. The Signoria (Town Council) of Florence wanted two large frescos painted. These were for the most important room of the Signoria Palace. Michelangelo was to paint The Battle of Cascina. Leonardo was to paint The Battle of Anghiari. Leonardo began by studying and drawing the faces of angry men and fighting horses. These drawings are still in his notebooks. Sadly, neither painting was finished. Leonardo mixed his paints with oil instead of using fresco. This meant the paintings would not dry. Michelangelo was called to Rome by the Pope.

Mona Lisa Painting

Mona Lisa or La Gioconda (1503–1519)—Louvre, Paris, France

Around 1503, Leonardo started painting the portrait of a woman known as Mona Lisa. This is the most famous portrait ever painted. He worked on it for many years. It is a small picture, painted with oil on a wooden panel. It shows the face, upper body, and hands of a woman. She is dressed very simply. Usually, for a portrait, a woman would wear her best clothes and jewelry. Mona Lisa wears a dark dress and a thin black veil over her head. Leonardo often left symbols in his paintings that give clues about the person. The unusual thing about this picture is her smile. (Mona is short for Madonna, which means "My Lady.")

The painting is famous because it seems full of mystery. Mona Lisa's eyes look at the viewer, but no one can guess what she is thinking. Her eyes and mouth seem to be smiling. This was very unusual for a portrait. Most people in portraits looked very serious. It is hard to tell her exact expression. When we try to understand someone's feelings, we look at the corners of their mouth and eyes. But Leonardo painted soft shadows in the corners of Mona Lisa's mouth and eyes. This hides her expression. Soft shadows are also on her face, neck, and hands. The way Leonardo uses shadow is called "sfumato." This is an Italian word for "smoke."

Later Years (1506–1516)

In 1506, Leonardo went back to Milan with his pupils. He lived in his own house in Porta Orientale. Some of his pupils became painters and made copies of his paintings.

In September 1513, Leonardo went to Rome. He lived there until 1516. He stayed in the Vatican. The three greatest painters of the High Renaissance were all working in Rome at the same time: Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Even though their names are often said together, they were not friends. Leonardo was in his sixties. Michelangelo was middle-aged and not friendly to Leonardo or Raphael. Raphael was a very clever young painter. He learned by looking at the work of the other two masters, but neither was ever his teacher.

In October 1515, King Francis I of France captured Milan. On December 19, Francis I and Pope Leo X met in Bologna. Leonardo went to the meeting with Pope Leo. He brought an amazing toy to entertain King Francis. It was a life-sized mechanical lion that could walk. It had doors in its chest that opened, and a bunch of lilies came out. Lilies were the royal symbol of the French Kings.

Old Age and Death (1516–1519)

Presumed self-portrait of Leonardo (c. 1510) at the Royal Library of Turin, Italy.

Clos Lucé in France, where Leonardo lived from 1516 to 1519

In 1516, Francis I invited Leonardo to come to France. The two men had become close friends. King Francis gave Leonardo a beautiful house called Clos Lucé (also known as "Cloux"). It is near the king's palace, Chateau Amboise. Leonardo spent his last three years at Clos Lucé. He was with his loyal friend and apprentice, Count Melzi. One of Leonardo's last paintings was a picture of John the Baptist.

When Leonardo was dying, he asked for a priest. He wanted to make his confession and receive Holy Communion. Leonardo died at Clos Lucé on May 2, 1519. In his will, he asked that sixty beggars follow his casket in a procession. He was buried in the Chapel of the Chateau Amboise. In his will, he left his money, books, and most of his paintings to Count Melzi.

Leonardo's Drawings

Leonardo did not paint many pictures. But he drew hundreds of quick sketches, plans, maps, and detailed drawings. This was how he recorded all the interesting things he saw, studied, and thought about. Some of Leonardo's drawings are "studies" for paintings. In these drawings, Leonardo planned what he was going to paint. The earliest drawing by Leonardo is a Landscape of the Arno Valley. It shows the river, mountains, Montelupo Castle, and farmlands in great detail. It is a pen and ink drawing of the Arno River valley. It is dated August 5, 1473. It is now in the Uffizi Gallery.

Leonardo's Notebooks

Leonardo da Vinci studied the Flight of birds. He tried to make a flying machine based on his discoveries.

The Vitruvian Man (c. 1485) Accademia, Venice

A page from Leonardo's journal showing his study of a fetus in the womb (c. 1510) Royal Library, Windsor Castle

Leonardo studied things his whole life. He did not go to college. He learned by looking at the world around him. He looked at things to see how they were made and how they worked. He drew what he saw and his discoveries in his notebooks. He also wrote notes about them. Many of his notebooks are now in museums. There are 13,000 pages of notes and drawings. Many of these are scientific studies.

Leonardo's notebooks are hard to read. This is because he wrote backward in "mirror writing." Some people think he was trying to keep his work secret. But this is not true. Leonardo wrote (and sometimes drew) with his left hand. In those days, pens were made from a quill (a large feather). It was hard for a left-handed person to write normally with a quill. But it was quite easy to write backward.

Leonardo probably planned to publish his studies. He organized many pages carefully. One study would take up the front and back of each page. There is a page with drawings and writing about the human heart. Another page is about the womb and the fetus. One page shows drawings of shoulder muscles. Another page shows how an arm works.

The notebooks were not published during Leonardo's lifetime. After he died, they were divided among different people who knew him. They are almost all in museums or libraries. These include Windsor Castle, the Louvre, and the British Library. The Biblioteca Ambrosiana (a library) in Milan has the twelve-volume Codex Atlanticus.

What Leonardo Studied

Some of the things Leonardo studied were:

The geology of the Earth. This included its mountains, valleys, rivers, and rocks.
The anatomy of the human body. This included its skeleton, muscles, veins, and internal organs. Leonardo was given dead bodies by a hospital. He "dissected" (cut up) thirty dead bodies. He carefully drew many of their parts. His drawings of bones and muscles helped other artists paint the human body correctly.
The anatomy of horses, cows, dogs, and bears.
The expressions on human faces.
The flight of birds.
The weather and its phenomena (things that happen in nature).
The way that water flows.
The botany of plants (how plants grow).
Light, shadows, mirrors, and lenses.
Perspective. This is how to make things look near or far in a drawing.
The geometry of solid objects. He drew many careful pictures. These were used by the mathematician Luca Pacioli in a book called De Divina Proportione.

Leonardo's Designs and Inventions

Many drawings and notes in Leonardo's notebooks are designs, plans, and inventions. Some of the things Leonardo designed were:

Costumes for parades, carnivals, and theatre. These were probably for Duke Federico's court. They included armor and a fierce dragon.
War machines. These included an armor-plated tank, a huge cross bow, and a terrible horse-driven leg-chopper. None of these were ever built during Leonardo's life.
Dams and canals for rivers.
A wooden bridge that could be carried flat on wagons. It could then be unfolded and put together at a river.
Flying things with flapping wings, a helicopter, a parachute, and a hang glider. One of Leonardo's servants was hurt while testing the hang glider. The parachute has been built and tested in modern times, and it actually works!
Churches and castles. It is possible that the Castle of Locarno in southern Switzerland was designed by Leonardo. No other building he designed was ever built.

Leonardo's Studies, Designs, and Inventions

Study of a skull
Study of a horse for the Duke's statue
Study of a sedge plant
Rhombicuboctahedron published in Pacioli's book
A parabolic compass
A Helicopter
Cannons
Walking on water
Modern model of Leonardo's parachute
Modern model of a bridge designed by Leonardo
Modern model of a tank by Leonardo
Modern model of a flywheel

Interesting Facts about Leonardo da Vinci

Because Leonardo had so many different interests, he often did not finish his paintings and projects.
He loved animals. He spent time studying birds, which helped him invent ideas for flying machines.
He also played the lyre and the flute. He often performed at gatherings for nobility and at the homes of his patrons.
His parents never married. He lived with his father and stepmother and had 12 half-siblings.
Many of his scientific discoveries were kept secret. Because of this, they did not help science advance much during the Renaissance period.
Leonardo was one of the first Italians to use oil paint.
It is thought that a stroke made Leonardo’s right hand paralyzed. This meant he could not finish some of his paintings.
"da Vinci" means "of Vinci." Last names did not become common until after Leonardo's death.
He never married or had children.

Images for kids

The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist, c. 1499–1508, National Gallery, London
An apocalyptic deluge drawn in black chalk by Leonardo near the end of his life (part of a series of 10, paired with written descriptions in his notebooks)
Drawing of the Château d'Amboise (c. 1518) attributed to Francesco Melzi
Presumed self-portrait of Leonardo (c. 1510) at the Royal Library of Turin, Italy
Antique warrior in profile, c. 1472
Rhombicuboctahedron as published in Pacioli's Divina proportione (1509)
Anatomical study of the arm (c. 1510)
Leonardo's physiological sketch of the human brain and skull (c. 1510)
Leonardo's drawings of a scythed chariot and a fighting vehicle
Statue outside the Uffizi, Florence, by Luigi Pampaloni (1791–1847)
The Death of Leonardo da Vinci, by Ingres, 1818
Leonardo Museum in Vinci, which houses a large collection of models constructed on the basis of Leonardo's drawings.
Tomb in the chapel of Saint Hubert at the Château d'Amboise where a plaque describes it as the presumed site of Leonardo's remains.
Madonna of the Carnation, c. 1472–1478, Alte Pinakothek, Munich
Landscape of the Arno Valley (1473)
Ginevra de' Benci, c. 1474–1480, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Benois Madonna, c. 1478–1481, Hermitage, Saint Petersburg
Sketch of the hanging of Bernardo Bandini Baroncelli, 1479
Head of a Woman, c. 1483–1485, Royal Library of Turin
Portrait of a Musician, c. 1483–1487, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan
La Belle Ferronnière, c. 1490–1498
Detail of 1902 restoration, trompe-l'œil painting (1498)
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, c. 1501–1519, Louvre, Paris
Leonardo's map of Imola, created for Cesare Borgia, 1502
Study for The Battle of Anghiari (now lost), c. 1503, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
La Scapigliata, c. 1506–1508 (unfinished), Galleria Nazionale di Parma, Parma