Common questions about Leonardo da Vinci

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When and where was Leonardo da Vinci born?

Leonardo da Vinci was born on the 15th of April 1452 in the Tuscan hill town of Vinci, Italy. He was born out of wedlock to a notary named Ser Piero and a peasant woman named Caterina.

Who was Leonardo da Vinci's first master and where did he train?

Leonardo da Vinci entered the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence around the age of 14. He became a formal apprentice by 17 and remained there for seven years to learn drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, and leatherworking.

What major engineering project did Leonardo da Vinci design for Ludovico Sforza?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a model for a massive equestrian monument known as the Gran Cavallo for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan. The metal intended for this monument was melted down to make cannons when the French invaded Milan in 1499.

How many pages of notes did Leonardo da Vinci leave behind in his notebooks?

Leonardo da Vinci left behind 13,000 pages of mirror-image cursive writing in his notebooks. These pages contain detailed drawings and notes on anatomy, engineering, and the laws of physics.

When and where did Leonardo da Vinci die?

Leonardo da Vinci died on the 2nd of May 1519 at the Clos Lucé, a manor house near the royal Château d'Amboise in France. He was buried in the Collegiate Church of Saint Florentin at the Château d'Amboise.