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Leonardo's was born in Vinci, Italy in the region of Florence. He was born out of wedlock to a peasant woman by the name of Caterina and a notary (lawyer) Peiro da Vinci. His parents never married.
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Andrea di Cione, known as Verrocchio, was know as one of the best painters and sculptors of his day in Florence. Leonardo apprenticed as a studio boy. This is a Verrocchio painting, Leonardo painted the young angel holding the robe. Leonardo apprenticed for Verrocchio for 7 years.
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At the age of 20, Leonardo qualified as a Master in the Guild of Saint Luke. The Guild of Saint Luke was an association of painters and other artists. In order to sell paintings to the public you must be a master in a Guild membership.
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This drawing of the Arno Valley is believed to be the earliest drawing of Leonardo da Vinci.
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Leonardo receives a commission to paint a picture titled Adoration of the magi. However, Leonardo never finished this painting because he left Milan. Even though this painting was never finished it is still considered a masterpiece and on display in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
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In 1482 Leonardo moved from Florence to Milan and was hired to do paintings for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan. Ludovico Sforza is best known today because of his commission to have Leonardo da Vinci paint "The Last Supper."
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Leonardo illustrated a book for mathematician Fra Luca Pacioli's book titled "Divian Proportione," translated title is Divine Proportions. Even though this book was meant for mathematics and geometry, Leonardo's illustrations made the book popular for other reasons such as finding geometric symmetry in art.
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Leonardo was not only an artist but an inventor. He kept a notebook of detailed plans of his inventions. Although his inventions were not created during his time, his sketches show that da Vinci sketched many inventions long before the technology even existed to create them. He created inventions of tools, war weapons, water systems, and even for flying.
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Leonardo began the painting in 1495 but did not work on the painting continuously and it was not finished until 1498. One of the religious superiors at the church complained to Leonardo about the delay. This made Leonardo so mad that he chose to use the superior as inspiration for painting Judas' face, the apostle who is hated for betraying Jesus Christ.
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Leonardo was commissioned to crease a bronze horse, meant to be the largest horse statue in the world, for Ludovico Sforza. It was never finished. The full size clay model was destroyed by French Soldiers who invaded Milan in 1499. However, Leonardo's sketches of the bronze horse inspired modern day sculptors in 1999 to realize Leonardo da Vinci's sketches into a 24 foot bronze horse that cost about $2.5 million dollars to make. It is on display at Hippodrome de San Siro in Milan.
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Leonardo became a military engineer for Cesare Borgia. He traveled around inspecting fortifications and was in charge of designing and improving military machines. This relationship did not last long, Leonardo da Vinci did not like Brogia's murdering rages and left Borgia to study anatomy.
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This is Leonardo's most famous painting to date. It was not famous while he was still living. The Mona Lisa has the highest Insurance value of any other painting in history, it was insured for 100 million dollars in 1962, today that would be about 790 million dollars. The Mona Lisa is on permanent display at a museum in Paris, at the Louvre.
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In 1510 Leonardo created a series of anatomical drawings of the human body that included over 240 individual drawings. These drawing included Leonardo's notes, over 13,000 words. Leonardo is credited for being the first to recognize the heart as a muscle and the functions of the heart auricles and veins.
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In 1515 Leonardo created a mechanical lion for the new king of France, Francis I. The lion was used for the coronation ceremony. It was life-size and the lion “...moved from its place in the hall and when it came to a halt its breast opened, and was full of lilies and flowers.” Also, at this time Leonardo completed the painting, "John the Baptist."
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Leonardo moved from Italy and permanently resides in France where he served France's King, Francis I in Amboise, France.
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In 1519, Leonardo da Vinci dies at the age of 67. This picture was painted in 1818 by Ingres and shows King Francis I receiving Leonardo da Vinci's last dying breath.
