Leonardo Da Vinci was born in 1452 in Italy and died in 1519 in France. He was a universal genius known for his expertise in various areas including fine arts, geometry, mechanics, and music. As an apprentice to artist Andrea Verrocchio, Da Vinci began painting and experimented with oil paint techniques. In his youth, he traveled to Milan and worked on projects for the Duke of Milan, and in his old age he entered the service of King François I of France. Da Vinci was an incredible inventor who conceived ideas well ahead of his time, including designs for flying machines, parachutes, cranes, irrigation systems, and the modern helicopter.