Leonardo De Sir Piero Da Vinci

The Last Supper, painted in the 1490's.

Childhood
Once upon a time, a few hundred years ago, down in the city of Vinci, which is now modern day Italy, in a lower Valley of Arno River it was a lovely day and it got even better when a little baby was born. His name was Leonardo Da Vinci and he was born on April 15th 1452. He was raised by a single father in a small house. Then eventually his dad got married to a sixteen year old. Her name was Albiera. Albeira loved Leonardo very much and Leonardo loved Alberia as well. Leonardo spent his first five years in the hamlet of Anchiano, in a house with father, grandparents, and uncle Francesco.

Education
Leonardo Da Vinci did not go to school so back then you would assume that he was not the sharpest pencil in the pencil case. He just did house work all day. Although at the time it did not seem like he had a very productive future ahead of him, he really grew up to have a great career.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Achievements
Leonardo Da Vinci achieved many great things.In 1466 at the age of 14, Leonardo was asked to join the studio of Andrea Del Verrochio and at the age of 2o he qualified as a master at Guild st Luke. In 1478 Leonardo was commissioned to paint an altarpiece for the Chape of ST Bernard. In 1481 he was commissioned to paint the Adoration of Maggie for the Monks of San Donato a Scopeto.In Milan in 1482-1499 he was commissioned to paint the Virgin of rocks for the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. In 1502 Da Vinci entered the service, Ceaser Borgio acting as a military Architect and engineer. He invented war tools that would be used on the battlefield. Da Vinci sketched his first aeroplane, first helicopter, first tank, first repeating rifle , first swinging bridge, first paddle boat and his first motor car. Da Vinci Returned to Europe after Milan and joined the Guild St Luke to begin another one of his paintings. He spent 2 years designing and painting the mural of The Battle of Anghian for the Signorina on October 18th. In 1515 Leonardo was present at a meeting where he was then commissioned to make a mechanical lion that could walk forward and open its chest to reveal a cluster of lilies for Francis I and Pope Leo X. That meeting took place in Bologna. Strangely Da Vinci was not just any painter, he was also an observer. It was said that when he saw someone with an interesting face he would follow them around all day observing them. That way when he either painted or drew the person he would get all the features right. He was also a scientist, he studied the human body and then moved forward into deeper science things.

Leonardo Da Vinci did not face as many difficulties as other famous people though he did face a couple. One of the terrible things that Leonardo faced, is that he was a chronic procrastinator with most of his paintings. Around fifteen paintings survived due to his frequent and constant disastrous experimentation with new techniques.

Mona Lisa or La Gioconda painted in the 1500's

Paintings
In 1481 Leonardo began the Adoration of Magi which he was commissioned to paint by the Monks of San Donato a Scopeto. Sadly in the year of 1482 he went off to Milan to win the favor with Ludovico Il Moroand and the painting was abandoned. In the year of 1485 Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Lady with the Ermine. 1495 was the year that Leonardo began working on the Last Supper and finished the painting in 1498. The Last Supper represents the last meal shared by Jesus and all his disciples before his capture and death. It was the exact moment when Jesus said "One of you will betray me". In 1500 he was commissioned to paint the Mona Lisa or "La Gioconda", which means the laughing one. The Mona Lisa was famous for her smile and the mysterious quality because of the technique the artist used, which was shading the corners of her mouth and eyes so the exact feeling of the smile, is not determined. Also the unadorned dress that the woman is wearing. In 1503 Leonardo was commissioned to paint a mural for the council hall in Florences's Palazzo Vechio. Most of his paintings got very far and famous, yet some did not get anywhere and when someone would speak of the name the light bulb in people's minds burns out. Some also might have not made it because of his terrible habit of procrastination.