Leonardo da vinci

The Life of Leonardo da Vinci

  • Birth of Leonardo
    Apr 15, 1452

    Birth of Leonardo

    Leonardo is born in the village of Anchiano, near the town of Vinci. Leonardo was born to Ser Piero, a notary, and Caterina, a peasant girl; his parents were never married.
  • Leonardo's Career Starts
    Jan 1, 1467

    Leonardo's Career Starts

    At the age of 15, Leonardo is sent to Florence to work as apprentice to Andrea De Verrocchio, but the exact date is still not confirmed.
  • The Painters' Guild
    Jan 1, 1472

    The Painters' Guild

    20 year-old Leonardo is accepted into the painters' guild of Florence. after 5 years of apprenticeship.
  • Leonardo is Accused
    Jan 1, 1476

    Leonardo is Accused

    Leonardo is accused of sodomy; he is publicly humiliated although the charges are later dropped.
  • Leonardo's Annuciation
    Jan 1, 1478

    Leonardo's Annuciation

    The Annunciation is painted. The work, initially credited to Da Vinci, is now believed to have been painted by Lorenzo di Credi.
  • Beginning of The Adoration of the Magi
    Jan 1, 1481

    Beginning of The Adoration of the Magi

    Leonardo begins work on The Adoration of the Magi, an altarpiece for the Monastery of San Donato at Scopeto.
    He sketches many studies.
  • Leonardo Moves to Milan
    Jan 1, 1482

    Leonardo Moves to Milan

    Leonardo moves to Milan to work in the service of the city's duke, Ludovico Sforza. He gains the title of "painter and engineer of the duke.
  • Virgin of the Rocks
    Jan 1, 1483

    Virgin of the Rocks

    Leonardo is commissioned to paint the Virgin of the Rocks at the age of 31 in Milan, Italy.
  • Lady with an Ermine
    Jan 1, 1485

    Lady with an Ermine

    Leonardo paints Lady with an Ermine and a plague has broken out in Milan, in which Leonardo would eventually leave.
  • The Last Supper
    Jan 1, 1495

    The Last Supper

    Leonardo begins work on The Last Supper in the refectory of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
  • The Last Supper Completed
    Jan 1, 1498

    The Last Supper Completed

    The Last Supper is completeda and Leonardo decorates the walls and ceiling of the Sala delle Asse. He also made his first attempts at planning a flying machine around this time.
  • Leonardo Goes Back to Venice
    Jan 1, 1499

    Leonardo Goes Back to Venice

    With the duke Ludovico Sforza'a fall from power, Da Vinci leaves Milan and spends a short time in Venice.
  • Virgin and Child
    Jan 1, 1500

    Virgin and Child

    Leonardo begins painting the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, a project that he only finishes after 10 years.
  • Leonardo Moves to Florence
    Jan 1, 1500

    Leonardo Moves to Florence

    Leonardo and Pacioli go to Mantua, then Leonardo continues on to Florence. In Mantua, he draws the Portrait in Profile of Isabelle d'Este. In Florence, he paints the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne.
  • Working for Cesare Borgia
    Jan 1, 1502

    Working for Cesare Borgia

    Leonardo begins work as senior military architect and general engineer for Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI.
  • The Mona Lisa
    Jan 1, 1503

    The Mona Lisa

    Leonardo is commissioned to paint the Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda) is a 16th century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance.
  • Painting a Mural
    Jan 1, 1503

    Painting a Mural

    Leonardo is commission to paint a mural for the council hall in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, which is to be the Battle of Anghiari, a work that would remain unfinished.
  • Louis XII
    Jan 1, 1507

    Louis XII

    Leonardo is appointed Louis XII's painter and engineer. He paints a second version of the Virgin of the Rocks. He meets his beautiful young assistant, Francesco Melzi. Also, he travels to Florence in a lawsuit against his brothers of his inheritance from his uncle Francesco.
  • Moving to Rome
    Jan 1, 1513

    Moving to Rome

    Living in the Vatican, he studies the properties of mirrors. It is perhaps at this time that he paints the Turin Self-portrait. It was in this year that Leo X (Medici) became pope; the previous year the Medici family returned to power in Florence
  • St. John the Baptist
    Jan 1, 1515

    St. John the Baptist

    Leonardo paints St. John the Baptist. He also constructs a mechanical lion for the coronation of the new king of France, Francis I.
  • The King of France
    Jan 1, 1516

    The King of France

    Leonardo permanently leaves Italy for France, where he will serve Francis I in his court in Amboise.
  • Leonardo's Death
    May 2, 1519

    Leonardo's Death

    Leonardo dies in France at an age of 62, a few weeks after his 62nd birthday.