Leonardo 25

Leonardo da Vinci stands out as one of history's most remarkable figures, embodying the ultimate Renaissance intellectual. Famed for creating the most celebrated painting ever, Leonardo was a multifaceted genius—part scientist, artist, philosopher, inventor, architect, and engineer—who truly captured the spirit of his time. Despite his wide array of interests and talents, he rarely completed many of his ambitious projects.

Leonardo's appeal today partly lies in his broad curiosity and diverse interests, which are evident in his vast collection of notes and sketches. These documents forecast many of the pivotal discoveries and inventions that would come after him, spanning fields like anatomy, where he explored the fundamentals of blood circulation, to groundbreaking designs for military tanks, aircraft, and submarines.

He made significant artistic strides by incorporating intricate psychological details into masterpieces like "The Last Supper" and the mysterious "La Gioconda," also known as the "Mona Lisa." A notable horseman, he was a contemporary competitor to Michelangelo and served as a military engineer for the Borgias. Leonardo passed away in 1519 at a chateau bestowed upon him by Francis I, King of France—a remarkable legacy for the illegitimate son of a notary from Florence.