Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Italy. He moved to Florence to study painting and sculpting under Andrea del Verrocchino Despite, who was considered a master of the arts. Da Vinci went on to sculpt and paint some of the most famous High Renaissance masterpieces, including The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. However, da Vinci was much more than a simple artist, he was also a polymath. A polymath is someone whose knowledge spreads across multiple different subjects. Da Vinci had a strong affinity for science and engineering, partially due to his earlier interest in human anatomy for his sculptures. He designed prototypes of several ‘flying machines,’ including parachutes and helicopters. In addition, da Vinci sketched ideas of a large crossbow, an armored car (now known as a tank), a canon and a car. More impressively, he also wrote about the idea of concentrating solar energy as a power source. Leonardo da Vinci was an extremely important and significant figure during the Renaissance period, progressing the fields of anatomy, sculpture, civil engineering, military technology and astronomy.
Image Credit: Francesco Melzi - Portrait of Leonardo
