Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452 in the Tuscan hill town of Vinci, in the lower valley of the Arno River in the territory of the Medici-ruled Republic of Florence.
He was the out-of-wedlock son of the wealthy Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, a Florentine legal notary, and Caterina, a peasant. Leonardo had no surname in the modern sense, “da Vinci” simply meaning “of Vinci”: his full birth name was "Lionardo di ser Piero da Vinci".
Most of his childhood was spent in his father's custody, but his mother chose to remarry and soon enough Leonardo has 17 half brothers and sisters, none of which he became truly familiar with. Not much is known about Leonardo's childhood other than his general upbringing and education.
As was the custom in Vinci, Leonardo was apprenticed to become an artist in the workshop of the famous Italian artist Andrea del Verrocchio at the age of 15. This is where Leonardo prospered the most.
After working several years under Verrocchio, Leonardo was able finally start is own workshop with financial aid from his father, but maintained closed ties with his former master. Leonardo's interests began to broaden as he received a degree in medicine, while simultaneously using painting as a profession.
20 year-old Leonardo is accepted into the painters' guild of Florence. He is also later accused of sodomy; he is publicly humiliated although the charges are later dropped.
The Annunciation is painted. The work, initially credited to Da Vinci, is now believed to have been painted by Lorenzo di Credi.
Leonardo begins work on The Adoration of the Magi, an altarpiece for the Monastery of San Donato at Scopeto.
Leonardo moves to Milan to work in the service of the city's duke, Ludovico Sforza. He gains the title of "painter and engineer of the duke.
Leonardo paints the Virgin of the Rocks.
Leonardo paints Lady with an Ermine.
The Last Supper is completed.
Leonardo moves back to florence and begins painting the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, a project that he only finishes after 10 years.
Leonardo begins work as senior military architect and general engineer for Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI.
Leonardo is commissioned to paint the Mona Lisa.
Leonardo is commission to paint a mural for the council hall in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, which is to be the Battle of Anghiari, a work that would remain unfinished.
Leonardo paints St. John the Baptist.
The king of France invites Leonardo to come work for him.
May 2, Leonardo dies in France.
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