Leonardo da Vinci

In October 1503, Leonardo da Vinci begins work on a monumental mural, The Battle of Anghiari. But the commission also put him in close proximity to his rival, Michelangelo, who was hired to paint a second mural in the council hall. Just as the central scene of Leonardo’s mural started to take shape, he stopped – abandoning yet another commission. It’s unlikely Michelangelo ever began his mural.

All of Leonardo da Vinci’s accomplishments are showcased in his unfinished painting The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne. From his scientific and artistic knowledge to observations on how atmospheric phenomena – light, haze, vapor, altitude and distance – affect the appearance of the landscape, the intensity of colors and the sharpness of details.

Muslim scientists in the Middle East had been testing their theories with experiments for a long time. However, most natural philosophers in Europe continued basing scientific conclusions on observation alone. But, as Leonardo da Vinci ages, he becomes more of a scientist. His notebooks capture the experiments he performed with empirical observations to investigate the cause of outcomes.

Toward the end of his life, Leonardo da Vinci finally finds the perfect patron – the King of France – and leaves leaving Italy for the first time. He stages spectacles, teaches, and continues to draw since painting becomes difficult. When giving a tour of his studio, Leonardo proudly shows his manuscripts and several unfinished paintings, including the culmination of all his work: The Mona Lisa.

Leonardo da Vinci resumes his investigation into human anatomy, merging rigorous scientific exploration with expert artistry. The scope of his studies grew, and he strove to describe human anatomy from the fetus to the fully grown man and women – their proportions, skeletal framework, muscular systems, and the nature of the senses.

As a young artist, Leonardo da Vinci helped advance the art of single-point linear perspective, which brought the illusion of depth to a two-dimensional work. Two of his first independent works as a professional artist were the Annunciation followed by a commission to paint a portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci. This portrait highlights his early mastery of painting techniques like sfumato and spolvero.

Leonardo da Vinci believed extensive knowledge of human anatomy was essential to depicting the human form. Since medical teachings were inadequate, he began a meticulous study of his own – and he didn’t stop at the surface. He also drew muscles, bones and organs, and he experimented with different techniques. He even studied ancient sources, which led to his famous depiction of The Vitruvian Man.

Leonardo da Vinci paints The Virgin on the Rocks – the most complex Madonna image of the entire Renaissance. But, after a disagreement over money, he withheld the painting. Meanwhile, Leonardo forms his own studio in Milan and finally begins getting commissions from Ludovico Sforza, including a portrait of a young woman who had caught his eye Cecilia Gallerani – or Lady with an Ermine.

Leonardo da Vinci started The Last Supper in the early 1490s. At the time, depictions of Christ sharing his final meal with his apostles were often sedate. Leonardo wanted to capture the drama of the emotional event. The mural would become one of his most well-known works, showcasing his gift for blending tones and colors, his mastery of light and shadow and his command of geometry.

A 15th century polymath of soaring imagination and profound intellect, Leonardo da Vinci created some of the most revered works of art of all time, but his artistic endeavors often seemed peripheral to his pursuits in science and engineering. Through his paintings and thousands of pages of drawings and writings, Leonardo da Vinci explores one of humankind’s most curious and innovative minds.

More than 4,000 pages of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks remain. Over his lifetime, he made meticulous observations, drew fantastical flying machines, sketched castles and church architecture, invented weapons of war, and more. These surviving pages offer unique insight into the curious mind, knowledge and discoveries of Leonardo da Vinci.