Originally published on Art UK and again on BBC Arts 

2nd May 2019 marks 500 years since the death of artist, inventor and polymath Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519.

An enigmatic figure and archetypal 'Renaissance Man', Leonardo was not only a brilliant artist – the Mona Lisa (1503) is undeniably the most famous painting in the world – but also an inventor, an engineer and a restless procrastinator. While there is only a total of 15 artworks attributed directly to him, Leonardo left behind a staggering 5,000 pages of notes and drawings about a diverse range of subjects from art, natural philosophy and mechanical engineering to the study of motion and flight, geology and anatomy.

As we mark half a millennium since the death of Leonardo, here's a brief exploration of some of his key life moments and a celebration of his genius. ... See More