ValeOfShadows on Nostr: Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15th 1452, in the town of Vinci, Republic of ...

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15th 1452, in the town of Vinci, Republic of Florence(Italy). Leonardo was a bastard child who was born to a nobleman Piero da Vinci and a peasant woman Caterina. Not much is known about Leonardo's childhood and he did not know his parents. In 1460 Leonardo's family moved from Vinci to Florence. When Leonardo was 14 he became a garzone or studio boy to Andrea del Verrocchio, where he learned a variety of skills. In 1472 at the age of 20 Leonardo became a master at the Guild of Saint Luke. Leonardo also painted his first painting the Baptism of Christ. In January of 1478 Leonardo, painted his first piece, the altar of the Chapel of Saint Bernard in the town hall of Florence. In March of 1481 Leonardo painted the Adoration of the Magi, for the monks of San Donato in Scopeto. In 1482 Leonardo was sent by Lorenzo de' Medici the Lord of Florence as an ambassador to Ludovico Sforza the Duke of Milan.

Leonardo began working for the Duke of Milan. In spring of 1485 Leonardo was sent to Hungary to paint a painting for King Matthias Corvinus. Leonardo stayed in Milan until 1499 where he painted many painting including his famous The Last Supper, which he started in 1495 and finished in 1498. In the year 1500 the French invaded Milan and forced Ludovico Sforza to flee the city. Leonardo then fled Milan for the Italian city-state of Venice. Later in the year Leonardo returned to Florence. In 1502 Leonardo entered the service of Cesare Borgia for a year. In 1503 he returned to Florence. Later in the year he painted his most famous painting the Mona Lisa, which was a portrait of Florentine noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo. In 1506 Leonardo left Florence for Milan after Charles II d'Amboise the French governor requested his services.

In March of 1513 Leonardo went to work for Pope Leo X in Rome, which he stayed there until 1516. On March 21, 1516 a French ambassador went to the Papal States to request that Leonardo da Vinci work for French King Francis I. Leonardo then moved to Amboise, France from Rome in service of the French king. In 1518 Leonardo's health started failing and on May 2nd 1519 Leonardo passed away at the age of 67, having been one of Europe's greatest polymaths.