Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia:
Leonardo da Vinci
(Vinci, Italy,
April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519, Cloux, France) was an Italian Renaissance
polymath: an architect, musician, anatomist, inventor, engineer,
sculptor, geometer, and painter. He has been described as the archetype
of the "Renaissance man" and as a universal genius, a man infinitely
curious and infinitely inventive. He is also considered one of the
greatest painters that ever lived.
In his lifetime, Leonardo — his surname is unknown, "da Vinci" means
"from Vinci" — was an engineer, artist, anatomist, physiologist and
much more. His full birth name was "Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci",
meaning "Leonardo, of ser Piero from Vinci". Leonardo is famous for his
paintings, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as for
influential drawings such as the Vitruvian Man. He designed many
inventions that anticipated modern technology, such as the helicopter,
tank, use of solar power, the calculator, etc., though few of these
designs were constructed or were feasible in his lifetime. In addition,
he advanced the study of anatomy, astronomy, and civil engineering. Of
his works, only a few paintings survive, together with his notebooks
(scattered among various collections) containing drawings, scientific
diagrams and notes.
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