Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), an iconic figure of the Italian Renaissance, was a polymath whose areas of interest included invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography. His genius epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal, and his collective works compose a contribution to later generations of scientists and artists that is virtually unparalleled. Leonardo is often described as having a fervent curiosity and inventive imagination. His technological ingenuity appears in sketches of machines like a flying machine, an armored vehicle, concentrated solar power, an adding machine, and the double hull, also reflecting his contribution to the development of parachutes and hydraulics. His detailed studies of the human body significantly influenced the study of anatomy, and his artistic masterpieces, such as the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” remain among the most famous and influential paintings of all time.