Leonardo Da Vinci – Biography and Artwork of the Italian Polymath

Leonardo da Vinci was a true Renaissance man, with talents spanning across painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, and science. Born in 1452 in Vinci, Italy, he began his artistic career under the tutelage of Andrea del Verrocchio. He quickly showed natural genius and curiosity that set him apart from other artists of his time.

Da Vinci’s contributions to the art world are immense; he is widely considered one of the greatest painters in Western art history. Despite having only 25 attributed major works to his name, he founded the High Renaissance and made significant contributions to fields like anatomy and perspective. His most famous work is undoubtedly the Mona Lisa, which is celebrated for its composition and masterful use of sfumato.

But Leonardo was more than just an artist; his natural curiosity led him to study subjects like mathematics and astronomy as well. He made significant improvements to existing technology during his lifetime through inventions like machines that could fly or swim underwater.

In his later years, Leonardo even served as First painter, architect & engineer to King Francis I in France. To this day, Leonardo remains a prominent figure in both the art world and popular culture; he is often referred to as a true “Renaissance Man” for his many achievements across so many different fields.

All Leonardo Da Vinci Artwork on Artchive

Artwork Name Year Medium
View of a Skull c.1500; Italy
View of a Skull c.1489; Italy
Views of a Foetus in the Womb.jpg c.1510 - c.1513; Italy chalk,ink,paper
Heads of an old man and a youth c.1495; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Heads of Judas and Peter chalk,charcoal,paper
Heads of Sts Thomas and James the Greater chalk,charcoal,paper
Heart and its Blood Vessels c.1500; Italy
Landscape drawing for Santa Maria della Neve 1473; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Landscape near Pisa c.1502; Italy chalk,paper
Study sheet with cats, dragon and other animals c.1513; Rome, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Study sheet with horses c.1513; Rome, Italy chalk,ink,paper
The anatomy of a foot c.1485; Milan, Italy metalpoint,ink,paper
The anatomy of a male nude and a battle scene c.1505; Florence, Italy
The Baptism of Christ c.1475; Italy oil,panel,tempera
The Madonna of the Carnation c.1480; Milan, Italy oil,panel
The proportions of the head c.1490; Milan, Italy metalpoint,ink,paper
The Study of a Drapery of a Figure Kneeling c.1472 - c.1475
The Study of Drapery of a Seated Figure 1473
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist c.1499; Italy chalk,charcoal,paper
Matched Couple c.1490; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Multi Barrel Gun c.1481; Milan, Italy
Topographical drawing of a river valley c.1500; Italy
Various figure studies c.1490; Italy ink,paper
Head of an Old Man c.1488; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Head of a Young Woman with Tousled Hair (Leda) c.1508; Milan, Italy gouache,wood,oil
Head of Christ c.1495; Milan, Italy pencil,wash,paper
Head of Christ chalk,paper
Head of Leda c.1505; Florence, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Head of Saint Anne c.1510; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Study of nursing Madonna and profile heads c.1480; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study of St Anne, Mary and the Christ Child c.1503; Florence, Italy charcoal,ink,paper
Study of St. Anne, Mary, the Christ Child and the young St. John c.1503; Florence, Italy ink,paper
Study of the effect of light on a profile head (facsimile) c.1488; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Study of the Graduations of Shadows on Spheres c.1492; Italy
Study of the Hanged Bernardo di Bandino Baroncelli, assassin of Giuliano de Medici 1479; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study of the Madonna and Child with a Cat c.1478; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study of water c.1513; Rome, Italy ink,paper
Study on the proportions of head and eyes c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Study sheet 1478; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Head of St. Andrew chalk,paper
Head of St. James the Less chalk,paper
Head of St. John the Evangelist chalk,paper
Head of St. Peter chalk,paper
Equestrian monument c.1517; Paris, France chalk,paper
Equestrian Statue c.1519; Paris, France
Female Head 1490; Italy chalk,charcoal,paper
Five caricature heads c.1490; Italy ink,paper
Flying machine c.1487; Milan, Italy metalpoint,ink,paper
Galloping Rider and other figures c.1503; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
Study of a rider c.1504; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
Study of a woman's head c.1490; Milan, Italy metalpoint,paper
Study of battles on horseback c.1504; Florence, Italy ink,paper
Study of battles on horseback and on foot c.1504; Florence, Italy ink,paper
Study of Christ for the Last Supper c.1500; Italy
Study of David by Michelangelo 1505; Florence, Italy pencil,ink,paper
Study of hands c.1474; Milan, Italy metalpoint,paper,silverpoint
Study of horses c.1490; Milan, Italy metalpoint,paper
Study of horses c.1505; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
Study of horses for the Battle of Anghiari c.1503; Florence, Italy chalk,wash,ink,paper
Grotesque Profile c.1487; Milan, Italy
Group of riders in the Battle of Anghiari c.1504; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
Head of a girl c.1483; Milan, Italy metalpoint,paper,silverpoint
Head of a Man c.1503; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
Drawing of a Woman's Torso c.1507; Italy ink,paper
Drawing of drapery c.1500; Italy chalk,paper
Drawing of lilies, for an Annunciation c.1500; Italy pencil,paper
Drawing of locks on a river c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Drawing of Salai c.1500; Italy
Drawing of the Torso and the Arms c.1500; Italy
Study for the Madonna with the Fruit Bowl c.1478; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study for the Sforza Monument 1489
Study for the Trivulzio Equestrian Monument c.1510; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study for the Trivulzio monument c.1510; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Study of a central church c.1488; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Study of a child c.1508; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Study of a child with a cat c.1478; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study of a Figure for the Battle of Anghiari 1504 - 1505; Italy chalk,paper
Study of an apostle's head and architectural study c.1496; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Study of an Old Man c.1480; Italy chalk,paper
Drawing of the uterus of a pregnant cow 1508; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Drawings of machines c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Drawings of Water Lifting Devices c.1481; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Design for an enormous crossbow c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Design for a parabolic compass c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Designs for a Boat c.1485; Milan, Italy
Double manuscript page on the Sforza monument (Casting mold of the head and neck) c.1493; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Drapery for a seated figure 1480; Italy canvas,tempera
Drapery for a seated figure 1470; Italy canvas,tempera
Drawing of a botanical study c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Study for St. Anne c.1501; Italy pencil,paper
Study for St. John in the Wilderness c.1510; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Study for the Adoration of the Magi c.1480; Italy ink,paper
Study for the "Burlington House Cartoon" (The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist) c.1507; Milan, Italy charcoal,paper
Study for the Head of Leda c.1506; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Study for the Kneeling Leda c.1506; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study for the Last Supper c.1494; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Study for the Last Supper c.1495; Milan, Italy metalpoint,ink,paper
Study for the Last Supper: James c.1495; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Study for the Last Supper: Judas c.1495; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Drawing of a fancy dress costume c.1500; Italy
Drawing of an equestrian monument c.1500; Italy
Drawing of an flood c.1500; Italy
Coition of a Hemisected Man and Woman c.1492; Milan, Italy
Comparison of scalp skin and onion 1489; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Crossbow Machine c.1481; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Deluge over a city c.1517; Paris, France chalk,paper
Design for a flying machine c.1488; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Design for a Flying Machine c.1505; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
Design for a Flying Machine 1488; Milan, Italy chalk,paper
Studies of legs of man and the leg of a horse c.1506; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Studies of the Arm showing the Movements made by the Biceps c.1510; Italy ink,paper
Studies of the foetus in the womb c.1513; Rome, Italy chalk,wash,ink,paper
Studies of the sexual act and male sexual organ c.1492; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Studies of the Villa Melzi and anatomical study 1513; Rome, Italy ink,paper
Studies of water c.1510; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Studies of Water passing Obstacles and falling c.1508; Milan, Italy
Study c.1478; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Study for Madonna and Child with St. Anne c.1510; Milan, Italy chalk,wash,paper
Study for Madonna with the Yarnwinder c.1501; Italy chalk,paper
Design for a Giant Crossbow 1482; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Design for a helicopter c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Design for a machine for grinding convex lenses c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Battle of Anghiari c.1503 - c.1505; Florence, Italy oil,panel
Birch copse c.1500; Italy chalk,paper
Bird's Eye View of a Landscape c.1502; Italy chalk,ink,watercolor,paper
Bird's eye view of sea coast c.1515; Rome, Italy ink,paper
Bust of a man in profile with measurements and notes c.1490; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Canal bridge c.1495; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Caricature c.1500; Italy ink,paper
St. Jerome c.1480; Milan, Italy oil,panel,tempera
Stof Bethlehem and other plants c.1506; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Storm over a landscape c.1500; Italy chalk,paper
Studies for a Nativity 1480 - 1485; Italy ink,paper
Studies for the heads of two soldiers in 'The Battle of Anghiari' c.1490 - c.1512; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
Study of a Bear Walking c.1484; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Studies of central plan buildings 1480; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Studies of crabs ink,paper
Studies of human skull 1489; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Studies of Leda and a horse c.1504; Florence, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Caricature c.1490 - c.1510; Italy ink,paper
Caricature c.1490 - c.1511; Italy ink,paper
Codex on the flight of birds 1505; Italy ink,paper
A seated man, and studies and notes on the movement of water c.1510; Milan, Italy ink,paper
A study for an equestrian monument c.1490; Milan, Italy metalpoint,paper
Automobile c.1480; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Drawings of a bird in flight c.1500; Italy
Mona Lisa c.1503 - c.1519 Oil on Panel (Poplar Wood)
Leda c.1510; Milan, Italy oil,panel
Leda and the Swan c.1510; Milan, Italy oil,panel
Leda and the Swan c.1506; Milan, Italy chalk,wash,ink,paper
Lily c.1473 - c.1475; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Madonna Litta (Madonna and the Child) c.1490; Italy canvas,tempera
Madonna with the Yarnwinder c.1510; Milan, Italy oil,canvas
Manuscript page on the Sforza monument c.1493; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Masquerader in the guise of a Prisoner.jpg c.1502 - c.1517; Paris, France chalk,paper
The Virgin of the Rocks c.1483 - c.1486 oil,panel
Woman's Head c.1473; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Natural disaster c.1517; Paris, France chalk,ink,paper
Old man with ivy wreath and lion's head c.1494 - c.1519; Florence, Italy chalk,paper
One of Leonardo da Vinci's designs for an Ornithopter c.1489; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Page from a notebook showing figures fighting on horseback and on foot c.1504; Florence, Italy ink,paper
Perspectival study of the Adoration of the Magi c.1481; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Portrait of a Bearded Man, possibly a Self Portrait c.1484 - c.1513; Rome, Italy chalk,paper
Portrait of an Unknown Woman (La Belle Ferroniere) c.1490; Milan, Italy oil,panel
La Bella Principessa - Portrait of Bianca Sforza 1495 - 1498; Italy ink,gouache,vellum,wood
Profile of a man and study of two riders c.1497; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Salvator Mundi c.1500 oil,panel
Profile of an old man c.1505; Florence, Italy ink,paper
A Grotesque Head c.1502; Italy chalk,paper
Allegory c.1516; Paris, France chalk,paper
An Artillery Park 1487; Milan, Italy pencil,paper
Anatomical studies c.1505; Florence, Italy ink,paper
Anatomical studies (larynx and leg) 1510; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Anatomical studies of a male shoulder c.1509; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Anatomical studies of the shoulder c.1510; Milan, Italy chalk,ink,paper
Anatomy of the Neck 1515; Rome, Italy
Annunciation c.1480; Milan, Italy oil,panel
A plan of Imola 1502; Italy chalk,wash,ink,paper
Profile of a warrior in helmet c.1472; Milan, Italy metalpoint,paper,silverpoint
Scythed Chariot c.1483; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Seated old man c.1487 - c.1498; Milan, Italy ink,paper
Sedge c.1510; Italy pencil,paper
Self Portrait c.1505
Self portrait on the Flight of Birds Codex c.1485; Italy
Siege Defenses c.1481; Milan, Italy
Sleeve Study for the Annunciation c.1470 - c.1473
Spring Device c.1500; Italy ink,paper
Vetruvian Man 1492 Ink on Paper
Lady with an Ermine 1483-1490 Oil on wood
St. Jerome c. 1480 Tempera And Oil On Panel
Head Of A Woman
Sketches For "the Battle Of Anghiari"
Rearing Horse c.1503 chalk,paper
Cannon Foundry 1487 Ink on Paper
The Virgin of the Rocks 1483 - c.1505 Oil on Panel
Distance from the Sun to the Earth and the size of the Moon
Benois Madonna c.1478 Oil on Canvas
The Musician c.1483 - 1487 Oil on Panel
The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and the Young St. John the Baptist c. 1501 Charcoal and touches of white on paper
Geometric Figure Duodecendron elevatus vacuus
Geometric Figure Tetracendron elevatus vacuus
Head of a Warrior c. 1504-06 Red pencil on cream-colored paper
Women's Head c.1473
Head of a Young Woman c. 1506 - 1508
John the Baptist c.1515 Oil on Panel
Madonna Litta c. 1490-91 Tempera on Canvas, transferred from panel
Muscles of the neck and shoulders c. 1515
Portrait of a Lady from the Court of Milan, called La Belle Ferronniere 1490-95 Oil on wood
Portrait of Isabella d'Este 1500 chalk,paper
Self-Portrait c. 1512 Red chalk
Cats, lions, and a dragon 1517-18 Paper
Study of Grotesque Heads c.1494 Ink on Paper
study of the porportions of the head and body c.1490 metalpoint,paper
The Annunciation c.1472 Oil on Panel,tempera,wood
The Dreyfus Madonna c. 1469 Oil on panel
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne c.1503 - c.1519 Oil on Panel
Portrait of Ginevra Benci c.1474 Oil on Wood
Study for the Last Supper c.1494 Ink on Paper
The Adoration of the Magi 1480 Oil on Panel
The Last Supper 1495 plaster,tempera
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