Vinci VinciMuseo Leonardiano di Vinci
His name isn't Da Vinci!
Leonardo didn't have a surname in the modern sense. He was an illegitimate son of Piero Fruosino and a peasant named Caterina. His full name was 'Lionardo di ser Piero da Vinci' meaning 'son of Piero from Vinci' - the Tuscan village in which he was born.
Model fot the God of the river (1525 circa) by Michelangelo BuonarrotiCasa Buonarroti
He hated Michelangelo
Leonardo was a rival of Michelangelo, whose muscled figures he said looked like "bags of walnuts or bunches of radishes". When Leonardo took a place on the committee to decide where to place Michelangelo's masterpiece David, he criticised the poor quality of the marble.
The Last Supper (c.1515-20) by Attributed to Giampietrino and Giovanni Antonio BoltraffioRoyal Academy of Arts
There's a figure hidden in this painting…
It's not who you think it is though. Leonardo liked to base his figures on real people, and spent a long time wandering the streets looking for a criminal to model for Judas. When his patron complained that he was wasting time, Leonardo said he would base Judas on his patron.
Codex Atlanticus Sheet (1497) by Leonardo da VinciBirkbeck, University of London
He worked as an engineer
While he's Florence's most famous son, he spent a fair amount of time in the nearby city of Milan, putting his accurate drawing and measuring skills to work as a military engineer and geographer for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.
Codex Atlanticus, folio 1058 v by Leonardo da VinciVeneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana
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Leonardo wrote many of his most famous texts backwards. This so-called 'mirror writing' has intrigued art historians for years. Was he left handed and trying to avoid smudging his ink? Or was it to stop prying eyes stealing his ideas?
Fountain in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, Rome Fountain in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, RomeTouring Club Italiano
He lived in the Vatican
In his later years, he lived here, in the Cortile del Belvedere of the Vatican City, alongside Raphael and his old rival Michelangelo. Leonardo was given an allowance and free reign over his studies, but he became frustrated as he failed to make a great impression on the Pope.
Façade du château royal d'Amboise, côté LoireChâteau Royal d'Amboise
He was buried at Château d’Amboise
In 1516 he started working under Francis I of France. He found great favour and worked closely with the king on designing a new fortified city. Leonardo died here, at Clos Lucé, in 1519 at the age of 67. According to legend, King Francis held the old man in his arms and wept.
