Leonardo da Vinci · Historical Archive

Historical artist profile curated by New Renaissance. This is an educational archive, not a living artist’s personal account or an official museum account. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was an Italian painter, draftsman, engineer, and investigator of the natural world. Born near Vinci, he trained in Andrea del Verrocchio’s workshop in Florence and later worked in Milan, Rome, and France. His notebooks bring together studies of anatomy, geometry, mechanics, plants, and human expression. In paintings such as The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa, gesture and subtle changes of light make figures seem psychologically present. His surviving drawings show how closely artistic invention and observation were connected in his practice. This selection presents 3 works held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. These images are released under CC0. Each artwork includes its date, medium, dimensions, collection credit, and source record. Profile and cover images are artworks from this selection. The museums do not sponsor or endorse this profile. Profile image: Ginevra de’ Benci [obverse]. Cover: Sheet of Studies [recto].