Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most talented people who ever lived. He was born in Vinci, Italy, in 1452. He painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He was also a scientist, inventor, and engineer.

Early Life

Leonardo grew up in the countryside of Italy. He showed talent for art at a young age. He became an apprentice to a famous artist in Florence. He quickly became more skilled than his teacher.

The old church record showing baby Leonardo da Vinci's name.
The old church record showing baby Leonardo da Vinci's name. (Parish of Vinci / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world. He also painted The Last Supper on a wall in Milan. He filled notebooks with drawings of flying machines, tanks, and robots. He studied the human body, animals, and nature.

Fun Facts

  • Leonardo wrote backwards in his notebooks so they could only be read in a mirror.
  • He designed a helicopter hundreds of years before one was built.
  • He was left-handed and often wrote from right to left.

Did You Know?

Leonardo's notebooks contain over 7,000 pages of drawings and notes. He designed bridges, weapons, and even a robot knight. Many of his inventions were not built until hundreds of years after his death.