Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous painters in history. But did you know that he was also a sculptor, architect, musician, and scientist? In this article, we will discuss five interesting facts about Leonardo da Vinci that you may not have already known about.
Fact # 1 – Greatest Work
Around 1503, Leonardo da Vinci began working on one of his most famous paintings, the Isleworth Mona Lisa, also known as the earlier Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa is thought to be a portrait of Lisa Gherardini. This painting was commissioned by her husband, Francesco del Gicondo, known to be a powerful family in France.
In 1506, Leonardo departed suddenly for Milan, and the Isleworth Mona Lisa was left unfinished. In 1513, Leonardo found himself under the patronage of Giuliano de Medici in Rome and began working on the Louvre version of the Mona Lisa. It is believed that he used the earlier Mona Lisa as a reference model for the second.
The Isleworth Mona Lisa is currently owned by a private collector, while the Louvre version of the painting is on public display in Paris.
Fact # 2 – Birth and Early Childhood
Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in the small town of Vinci, Italy. He was born out of wedlock and raised by his father and multiple stepmothers over the years.
He did not receive much formal education and only learned essential reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. However, his father recognized his art potential early on and sent him to study with an apprentice.
Fact # 3 – Apprenticeship
As a young man, Leonardo da Vinci apprenticed with the noted artist Andrea del Verrocchio at the age of 14. During his apprenticeship, he would have had the opportunity to learn about painting, sculpture, and architecture.
He spent six years honing his skills in multiple aspects of art, including drawing, sculpting, and metalworking. Because of this, he became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke by age of 20. By 1478, he was an independent master and created his first commissioned work, The Adoration of the Magi. Unfortunately, it was never finished.
Fact # 4 – Other Minor Works
In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned by Lorenzo de Medici to paint a mural of The Battle of Anghiari. The painting was never completed, but da Vinci did create several sketches and studies for the project.
Soon after, he went to Milan and worked as an engineer, architect, sculptor, and painter for the people of the Sforza dynasty that was ruling at the time. For 12 years, he worked on a bronze statue for the dynasty founder Francesco Sforza. But that work, too, was never completed.
Fact # 5 – Death
In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci was once again under the patronage of King François I of France and spent his last years living in a manor house in the town of Amboise. He was working on a painting of the Battle of Anghiari.
He died in the manor on May 1519 at the age of 67. The cause of his death is unknown, but it is believed that he succumbed to natural causes. He was working on a painting of the Battle of Anghiari. He is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert in the Chateau d’Amboise in France.
Final Thoughts
From being a phenomenal painter to a curious scientist, Da Vinci still leaves his footprint on the arts and sciences today. Even after his death, he continues to amaze and inspire people worldwide from one art gallery to the next. In addition, leaving behind a vault of curiosity as he did leave things unfinished often in pursuit of greater things.
