Leonardo da Vinci (1452– 1519) is among the most intriguing characters in the history of Western art. Trained in Florence as a painter and carver in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio (1435– 1488), Leonardo is likewise commemorated for his scientific contributions.

His interest and insatiable hunger for knowledge never ever left him. Although finished works by Leonardo are few, he left a big body of drawings (almost 2,500) that tape his ideas, most still gathered into notebooks.

He was principally active in Florence and Milan, but invested the last years of his life in Rome and France, where he died. His genius as an artist and innovator continues to influence artists and researchers alike centuries after his death.