Leonardo Da Vinci was an Italian polymath, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer born during the Renaissance. He had no formal education but was a self-taught genius who made significant contributions across multiple fields through keen powers of observation and experimentation. Some of his most famous works include the Mona Lisa painting and extensive notebooks containing thousands of drawings and notes on science, invention, art and more. He approached his work with a scientific mindset far ahead of his time.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci
Renaissance Man, Genius

2. Leonardo Da Vinci
(1452-1519)
Born in Vinci, Italy, an illegitimate son to a peasant
woman and a successful notary, he began his life facing
hardship and obscurity.
With no privilege of a formal education, Da Vinci
launched a self-education program.
He grew up in nature, and began to use his keen skill of
observation to learn about the world around him.
He was alive during a tumultuous, yet progressive time
for Italy and for the world.

3. Accomplishments
of Leonardo Da Vinci
Scientist
Botanist
Mathematician
Musician
Engineer
Writer
Inventor
Zoologist
Anatomist
Aerodynamics
Painter
Hydrodynamics
Sculptor
Cartography
Architect
Philosophy

4. Art
Curious as well as observant, he constantly tried to explain what he
saw.
Because he wrote down and sketched so many of his observations,
we know that he was among the very first to take a scientific approach
towards understanding how our world works and how we see it
Leonardo’s desire to paint things realistically was bold and fresh, and
eventually became the standard for painters who followed in the 16th
century
Went beyond his teaching by making a scientific study of light and
shadow in nature
Objects were not comprised of outlines, but were actually 3-D
bodies defined by light and shadow

5. Art

7. Mystery of the Mona Lisa
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•
•
•
He recorded in his notebooks the
records of model sittings; but
records of the Mona Lisa model
sitting are nowhere to be found
Theories are that Leonardo
painted himself, and this theory is
supported by analyzing the facial
features of Leonardo’s face and
that of the famous painting
If the features of the face were
placed on top of each other, and
flipped, they would align perfectly
Also, it has been x-rayed and there
currently 3 different versions of it
underneath the current one.

8. Machines
Due to his highly inquisitive nature, Leonardo began hundreds of projects to learn about
the world around him. His projects were ranging from painting to war machine invention, but
never brought many of his projects to completion. Most of his scientific theories and
inventions never made it past the notebook stage. However, the ingenuity of his ideas are
still being used today.
War machines from the armored car, firearm with screw elevating gear, machine for storming
walls, hoist for lifting cannons, eight barreled organ, automatic igniting device, hull rammer,
giant cross bow, ballista for hurling stones, scythed chariot, split-trail gun carriage, and
many more.
Flying machines such as the aerial screw, device for testing beating wings, flying ship,
articulated wing, parachute, anemometer, flapping-wing machine with vertical bearing, wing
structure, inclinometer, wing-beating device with a screw and lead screw system, leaf spring
engine for flying machine.

9. More machines
Work machines-Self propelled car, pillar lifting machine, pile driver, drilling
machine, revolving crane, machine for threading screws, machine for making
mirrors, machine for making ropes, winged spindle, distiller with continuous
cooling system, pulleys, mechanical drum, odometer, gold foraging hammer, fan,
rollers for friction studies, machine for digging trenches, and more
Water and Land machines- sluice gate hatch, lagoon dredge, paddle boat,
webbed glove, drop-bottom float, floats for walking on water, fast-construction
bridge, boat with paddle wheels, diving bell, bilge pump, device for measuring
water turning to steam, double hull, auto-feed hydraulic saw, mobile-ram boat
(assault battleship).

11. Science
Leonardo Da Vinci had a strong curiosity and refused to believe what
his observations could not prove. For example, through his studies of
fossils, he refuted ideas such as the Great Flood from the biblical era
of Noah who built the ark.
By his studies refuting the flood, Leonardo also predicted the 20th
century idea of plate tectonics by considering the possibility of uplift in
mountain building.
It was even suggested that Leonardo conceptualized an idea of
evolution, which was not formally researched and published by Charles
Darwin until 1859... more than 300 years later!!!

12. Anatomy
The detail with which Leonardo Da Vinci observed, recorded,
drew, documented his medical findings set an example for
researchers and medical practitioners for centuries to come.
The zealousness with which Leonardo Da Vinci searched for
answers set an example for all of the world.

13. Why he’s a genius
A genius, according to wikipedia.com, is a person
with great intelligence, who shows an exceptional
natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in
creative and original work. Geniuses always show
strong individuality and imagination, and are not
only intelligent, but unique and innovative.
Leonardo gained his intimate knowledge of the
world despite lacking a formal education and
despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds.
He wrote out ideas, filling 20,000 pages of notes
which are still studied today.
His art and paintings are admired millions.
His interests, enthusiasm boundless. His work is
not only creative and original, but revolutionary.
Leonardo Da Vinci

14. Mysteries of Vinci alsoVinci
Da had much
Despite being a genius, Da
mystery surrounding him. In fact, here are a few
interesting thoughts:
It is thought that Leonardo
Da Vinci was dyslexic.
Most of the time, he wrote
his notes backwards. Why did
Leonardo write from right-toleft, in mirror image? Although
unusual, this is a trait shared by
many left-handed dyslexic
people. Most of the time,
dyslexic writers are not even
consciously aware that they are
writing this way.

15. Mysteries of Da Vinci
Leonardo's spelling is also considered erratic and quite strange.
He also started many more projects then he ever finished - a
characteristic now often considered to be 'A.D.D.‘
Even Leonardo, later in his life, regretted "never having completed
a single work."
Unfinished Da Vinci
painting of St Jerome
The adoration of the Magianother unfinished work of
Leonardo Da Vinci
Unfinished sketch of a horse