As a child, Leonardo showed a remarkable talent for drawing and painting. He received his early training in art in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, a well-known painter, and sculptor in Florence. Verrocchio recognized Leonardo's talent and encouraged him to develop his skills in many areas, including painting, sculpture, engineering, and science.
In his twenties, Leonardo established himself as an independent artist in Florence, where he painted some of his most famous works, including "The Annunciation" and "The Adoration of the Magi." However, he was not content to be just a painter and began to explore other fields, such as anatomy, botany, and geology.
In the early 1480s, Leonardo moved to Milan, where he worked for the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, as an artist, engineer, and inventor. During his time in Milan, he designed and built several machines, including a flying machine, a parachute, and a machine gun. He also painted his masterpiece, "The Last Supper," on the wall of the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent in Milan.
In 1499, Milan was invaded by French troops, and Leonardo returned to Florence, where he continued to work as an artist and inventor. He painted "The Mona Lisa" during this time, and it is considered one of the greatest works of art of all time.
In 1506, Leonardo returned to Milan, where he worked for the French rulers of the city until 1513. During this period, he worked on many projects, including the design of a canal system and a series of frescoes in the Castello Sforzesco. He also continued his scientific investigations, making many discoveries in the fields of anatomy, botany, and optics.
In 1513, Leonardo moved to Rome, where he worked for Pope Leo X as an artist and engineer. During this period, he worked on many projects, including the design of a new city for the Pope and the construction of a giant bronze statue of the Pope's brother, Giuliano de' Medici.
In 1516, Leonardo moved to France, where he lived until his death in 1519. He worked for King Francis I as an artist and engineer, designing and building machines and helping to plan the royal palace at Fontainebleau. During this time, he continued to paint and made several drawings and sketches of the human form, including the famous "Vitruvian Man."
Leonardo da Vinci died on May 2, 1519, at the age of 67, in the small village of Cloux in France. He is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert at the Château d'Amboise in France.
Leonardo da Vinci is widely considered to be one of the most brilliant and innovative thinkers in human history, earning him the title of "genius." He was a polymath who excelled in many fields, including painting, sculpture, architecture, science, engineering, mathematics, and literature. His artistic and scientific achievements continue to be celebrated and studied to this day, and he is recognized as a pioneer in the fields of anatomy, optics, and hydraulics, among others. His ability to observe, question, and experiment, coupled with his creativity and inventiveness, make him one of the most remarkable individuals in human history.