Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was Born

Apr 15, 1452

Leonardo wsa taken in by his father due to illegitimate, he was a beautiful boy, talented in the arts, math, and music. Soon his father could no longer deny the talents of his son and took him to study painting in Florence.

Became Apprentice

Apr 24, 1467

Leonardo was the bsatard son of his father, never truly open to the world to explore a career. When his father recongnized he was talented in painting, he took him to one of the two most respected workshops in the city, that of Andrea del Verrocchio, He was a talented man in many aspects, when Leonardo went to work for him at age 15, at first all he did was small chores. Later he would have learned to prepare pigments and canvases; then he would have drawn studies of Verrocchio's works.

Leonardo was accepted by the painters guild in Florence

Apr 24, 1472

After Leonardo out painted his master, he went to work for the painters guild. He had been commissioned to paint two paintings during his time there, The Adoration of the Magi for the monastery of San Donato a Scopeto; and the second was for a painting that was to be completed in the Altar of St. Bernard Chapel in the Palazzo della Signoria. The first painting was never completed and the second, Leonardo never even began, abandoning the projects to move to Milan.

Leonardo accused of Sodomy

Apr 24, 1476

At age 24, Leonardo was aressted for sodomy, along with a few companions. Though the chargers were dropped later, the whole indident humiliated him. There were rumors that he was possibly a homosexual due to the fact he never married, never had kids, and raised many young protégés, including one nicknamed "Salai" which means "offspring of Satan".

The Annunciation was painted

Apr 24, 1478

Made in Paris, France. The composition follows a centuries old model with the angel on the left, the Virgin on the right, and a lectern in between; the whole depicted in an architectural setting that opens out onto a landscape. The kneeling angel is magnificently youthful with his high forehead, stylized wings, rich clothing, and lily. The Virgin,, surprised while reading, raises her hand in a gesture of astonishment, and displays a fine-featured face which some have described as cold.

Begins working on The Adoration of the Magi

Apr 24, 1481

A painting Leonardo never came to complete due to him leaving Florence and moving to Milan for reasons unknown, but its composition is constructed around a central, pyramidal grouping of figures, and, most significantly, Leonardo here incorporates lights and darks in the underdrawing of this painting. Leonardo also declared his independence of Verrocchio, emerging with a fresh, personal style.

Moves to Milan

Apr 24, 1482

Once Leonardo moved to MIlan, his main focus was not on painting but on his other interest. He was an admirer of science and engineering. Also was pushed Leonardo to go was the opportunity to work for Milan's ruler, Ludovico Sforza.

Paints Virgin of the Rocks

Apr 24, 1483

Thsi painting was actually two different paintings all together, meaning that when Leonardo was comissioned to paint it, along with two other well knowns painters at the time, when the piece was completed, the painters felt that the fee was worth less than what the painters worth was, so have said it was sold to a thrid party. Not long after they started a second painted that met there standards, Leonardo was absent for quiet some time between 1501-1506, causing a hault on the painting

Paints Lady with an Empire

Apr 24, 1485

This painting was one of the most important paintings in all Western art, Leonardo was working in Milan for Duke Ludovico Sforza, one of the wealthiest and most powerful princes of Renaissance Italy, The Greek word for the animal is galee, an obvious play on "Gallerani", Cecilia's (his mistress) family name. The ermine also refers to her character: according to legend, the ermine is too fastidious to dirty it fur. Thus by extension, the ermine suggests Cecilia's wholesome or pure nature.

Brgins work on The Last Supper

Apr 24, 1495

The subject of the Last Supper is Christ’s final meal with his apostles before Judas identifies Christ to the authorities who arrest him. The Last Supper, a Passover Seder, is remembered for two events.

The Last Supper is complete

Apr 24, 1498

The Last SupperChrist says to his apostles “One of you will betray me,” and the apostles react, each according to his own personality. Referring to the Gospels, Leonardo depicts Philip asking “Lord, is it I?” Christ replies, “He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.” (Matthew 26) We see Christ and Judas simultaneously reaching toward a plate that lies between them, even as Judas defensively backs away. Christ blessed the bread and said to the apostles “Take, eat; this is my

Leaves Milan

Apr 24, 1499

He left after the fall of Lodovico il Moro when the French invaded Milan around the turn of the 1500s.

Begins work painting The Virgin Child with Saint Anne

Apr 24, 1500

This painting depicted St. Anne, her daughter the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. Christ is shown grappling with a sacrificial lamb symbolising his Passion whilst the Virgin tries to restrain him. The painting was commissioned as the high altarpiece for the Church of Santissima Annunziata in Florence and its theme had long preoccupied Leonardo.

Returned to Florence

Apr 24, 1500

By April, he had returned to Florence. He saw his father Ser Piero, who was by this time a wealthy man of 74, living with his fourth wife. Leonardo took up lodgings with the Servite friars of Florence, hoping to find a patron soon. He agreed to paint an altarpiece for the friars, but it took months for him to begin. In the meantime, he undertook several architectural projects, and continued work in his notebooks on the collapse of buildings and building materials.

Begins working for Cesare Borgia

Apr 24, 1502

Cesare Borgia was Italian, also the commarnder of the pope army. He had nearly subjugated all of central Italy, the Romagna. In the late summer of 1502, Borgia took on Leonardo as his chief military engineer. Leonardo traveled the Tuscan coast, inspecting fortifications and draining marshes. He then traveled all over the Romagna, finally ending up in Imola. There, Borgia set up his winter quarters.

Commissioned to paint the Mona Lisa

Apr 24, 1503

Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is one of the most famous and most celebrated works of all time. The mastery of the painting lies in its subtle detail, including the faint smile, and Mona Lisa's distinctive gaze. The work is said to have been commissioned by a gentleman named Francesco del Giocondo, who hired Leonardo to paint a portrait of his wife, and this is why The Mona Lisa is sometimes referred to as La Gioconda. While this is a theory on the origination of the painting, scholars have disag

Paints St. John the Baptist

Apr 24, 1515

Believed to be one of Leonardo's last paintings. In Leonardo's painting St. John seems almost to be a hermaphrodite. He has a womanish arm bent across his breast, his finger raised towards heaven, and that same enigmatic smile so admired on the face of Mona Lisa, a smile which can be seen in other Leonardo paintings like that of St. Anne. Many people critized him for his work.

Invited to France

Apr 24, 1516

During his final years, the King of France invited Leonardo to come live in one of the castle near Paris, Leonardo accepted and left for his new home. It was said the King was fond of him and would visit Leonardo often. Legend has it one day the King went to visit Leonardo and upon entering his bed chamber the King found him dying, unable to move from his bed, when he tried to sit up to honor his guest the King went and sat beside him holding him up, he then died in the Kings arms.

Leonardo da Vinci passes away

May 2, 1519

Leonardo was never truly aware of the effect he had on todays modern society, without his great mind many things might not have been accomplished.