Leaders in History: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was the epitome of a “Renaissance man.” Possessor of a curious mind and keen intellect, da Vinci studied the laws of science and nature, which greatly informed his work as a painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, military engineer, and draftsman.

Da Vinci's ideas and body of work—which includes "Virgin of the Rocks," "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa"—have influenced countless artists and made da Vinci a leading light of the Italian Renaissance.

To learn more about da Vinci and how his contributions became some of the greatest to emerge out of the Italian Renaissance, read his full biography here, on Biography.com