The Renaissance: Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in the Tuscan town of Vinci. His father was a wealthy Florentine notary and his mother was a peasant woman. Little is known about his early life but it is believed that he received a basic education in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
At the age of 14, Leonardo began an apprenticeship with Andrea del Verrocchio, a prominent Florentine artist. During his time with Verrocchio, Leonardo learned a variety of skills including painting, sculpture, and metalworking. He also became skilled in horse riding and fencing.
Leonardo's early works as an artist were primarily as a painter. He was influenced by the works of other prominent artists of the time such as Botticelli and Ghirlandaio. One of his earliest known works is a drawing of Arno Valley which he created when he was just 20 years old.
Despite his early success as an artist, Leonardo was also fascinated by science and technology. He was particularly interested in anatomy and began to study the human body in detail, making detailed drawings of bones, muscles, and organs. He also studied mathematics, optics, and the laws of motion. It was this combination of artistic skill and scientific curiosity that set Leonardo apart from other artists of his time.
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