My life as Leonardo Da Vinci

         Hi I am Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, or most people call me just Leonardo da Vinci. I was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy, just outside of Florence. I am the illegitimate son of Perio da Vinci and my mother is named Caterina and even though my mother left my father I have a total of 17 half sisters and brothers. Growing up in my father's home I was able to read a few scholarly texts owned by family and friends and also received an informal education in Latin, geometry, and mathematics. When I was fifteen I was able to work as an apprentice in the renowned workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence. Even though I was only an apprentice I was said to have immense talent and was able to portray this in one of my first big breaks when I painted an angel in Verrochio's "Baptism of Christ" I was so good in fact, that my master Verrochio swore to never paint again.

        Eventually in search of new challenges and more money I serviced myself to the Duke of Milan in 1482. I was able to broaden my horizons while working for the Duke by painting, sculpting, designing elaborate court festivals, designed weapons, buildings and machinery. I produced studies on many subjecsts such as; nature, flying machines, geometry, mechanics, municipal construction, canals and architecture. 

       After the invasion by the French, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza fell from power in 1499 I was forced to find a new patron. Throughout the next 16 years of my life I traveled and worked throughout Italy for a number of employers including the horrid, Cesare Borgia. I spent a year with Borgia's army working as a military engineer where I was also able to meet Niccolo Machiavelli, author of "The Prince". 

        From 1513 to 1516 I worked in Rome, in a workshop while producing a variety of projects for the Pope. Although following the death of my patron Giulian de' Medici on March of 1516 I was offered the far more prestigious title of Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of King Francis I in France. Shortly after this however, I began suffering from a paralysis of the right hand. I was still able to draw and teach but my career began to slow down from here on. I hope you enjoyed my life story it was quite rewarding and fulfilling for me :)