Leonardo da Vinci

The scientist-artist who expanded the area of knowledge more than anyone else

Who is he?

Leonardo da Vinci is the embodiment of the Renaissance man – gifted in both art and science and acting with deep love towards human beings.

Why is he an overman?

Leonardo’s genius extended into countless fields – from innovative techniques in the visual arts, through research in the field of anatomy, to engineering marvels for his time, and so on. His curiosity and thirst for knowledge as he simply needed to understand the world that surrounded him. Many of his inventions foresaw the future and still serve as an inspiration to the new generations of explorers.

Leonardo knew that science was not inanimate and that understanding humans and the world required one to immerse oneself in the secrets of the spirit as well. He saw man and manmade inventions as harmonious with nature. The Vitruvian man is a symbol of how Leonardo blended art, science, and philosophy. In the image, the man’s outstretched arms and legs show how the human body can fit perfectly into both a square and a circle—two shapes that were considered symbols of the physical and spiritual world. The square represented the earth and the material world, while the circle stood for the heavens or the divine.

Leonardo was known to be charming, witty, and sociable. He loved conversation, storytelling, and debate, and he could be very persuasive. At the same time, he could be private and deeply introspective, especially when working on his personal notebooks, where he explored his ideas, thoughts, and inventions in great detail.

Curious facts:

Leonardo often wrote his notes backward, from right to left, in a mirror image. While some think it was to keep his ideas secret, it was likely just more comfortable for him as a left-hander and may have helped prevent smudging the ink.

Leonardo had a deep respect for animals and is believed to have been a vegetarian, which was very uncommon during the Renaissance. He also reportedly bought caged birds in the market just to set them free.

Quotes:

Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.

The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.

Nature is the source of all true knowledge. She has her own logic, her own laws, she has no effect without cause nor invention without necessity.

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.

Short biography:

15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519

Born in Vinci, Italy, Leonardo was the illegitimate son of a notary and a peasant woman. From a young age, Leonardo demonstrated exceptional talent and curiosity. He began his formal artistic training in Florence under the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, where he honed his skills in painting, sculpture, and mechanical arts.

His artistic career took him across Italy; after an early period in Florence, he worked for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, where he was employed not only as a painter but also as a military engineer and court entertainer. Following the French invasion of Milan in 1499, Leonardo fled and spent years traveling and working in cities like Venice, Mantua, and Rome.

Leonardo had no known romantic relationships or children, and he never married. He maintained close ties with a few trusted companions, most notably Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno, nicknamed “Salai,” who entered his household as a boy and remained with him for over two decades.

Leonardo spent his final years in France, under the patronage of King Francis I, where he continued to work and reflect on his vast array of interests.

Notable work:

Mona Lisa

Louvre, Paris

The Last Supper

Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

Vitruvian man

Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice