Leonardo da Vinci's Milestones
Birth
Born Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci in Vinci, Tuscany, illegitimate son of notary Piero da Vinci and Caterina di Meo Lippi.
Parents marry others
Both parents married separately the year after Leonardo's birth, leaving him with paternal grandfather.
Kite memory
Recorded earliest memory of kite coming to his cradle and opening his mouth with its tail.
Lived with grandfather
Tax records show Leonardo lived in household of paternal grandfather Antonio da Vinci.
Family moves to Florence
Leonardo's family moved to Florence, center of Christian Humanist thought and culture.
Verrocchio's apprentice
Became garzone (studio boy) at age 14 in workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, leading Florentine painter and sculptor.
First commission
Received first known commission for altarpiece for Chapel of St. Bernard in Palazzo Vecchio.
Master craftsman
Qualified as master in Guild of Saint Luke, allowed to work independently.
Annunciation painting
Painted 'The Annunciation', one of his earliest independent works.
Baptism of Christ collaboration
Painted angel in Verrocchio's 'Baptism of Christ', showing superior skill that allegedly made Verrocchio abandon painting.
Sodomy accusation
Anonymously accused of sodomy with male prostitute, case dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Independent workshop
Established independent workshop in Florence, received commission for Palazzo Vecchio altarpiece.
Compilation of Notebooks (Codices)
Throughout his career, maintained extensive notebooks (Codices) filled with drawings and notes on anatomy, botany, geology, engineering, optics, and art theory, totaling thousands of pages.
Adoration of the Magi
Commissioned to paint 'Adoration of the Magi' for San Donato monastery, left unfinished.
Letter to Ludovico Sforza
Wrote famous letter to Duke of Milan offering services as military engineer, architect, and artist.
Moved to Milan
Moved to Milan to work for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.
Virgin of the Rocks
Commissioned to paint 'Virgin of the Rocks' for Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception.
Court painter duties
Designed court festivals, pageants, and theatrical productions for Sforza court.
Vitruvian Man
Created famous drawing 'Vitruvian Man' illustrating ideal human proportions.
Began systematic anatomical studies
Commenced systematic study of human anatomy through dissections, aiming to write a comprehensive treatise.
Gran Cavallo project
Worked on massive bronze equestrian statue for Francesco Sforza, largest ever attempted.
Met Giacomo Caprotti
Ten-year-old Giacomo Caprotti (Salaì) joined household as assistant, became lifelong companion and pupil.
Bronze diverted for cannons
Bronze intended for Gran Cavallo statue given to make cannons for defense against French invasion.
Last Supper commission
Painted 'The Last Supper' fresco for Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery refectory.
Sala delle Asse decoration
Painted elaborate trompe-l'œil decoration of mulberry trees in Sforza Castle.
Sforza Horse Model Destroyed
His full-scale clay model for the Gran Cavallo (Sforza equestrian statue) was used as target practice and destroyed by French archers after their invasion of Milan.
French invasion
French forces captured Milan, Ludovico Sforza fled, ending Leonardo's first Milanese period.
Fled to Venice
Fled Milan with Salaì and mathematician Luca Pacioli, worked as military engineer in Venice.
Burlington House Cartoon
Created cartoon of 'Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist'.
Returned to Florence
Returned to Florence, stayed at Santissima Annunziata monastery.
Served Cesare Borgia
Worked as military architect and engineer for Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI.
Map of Imola
Created detailed military map of Imola for Cesare Borgia's strategic planning.
Mona Lisa begun
Began painting portrait of Lisa del Giocondo (Mona Lisa), worked on it intermittently until his death.
Rejoined Guild of Saint Luke
Rejoined Guild of Saint Luke in Florence after returning from Borgia's service.
Battle of Anghiari
Commissioned to paint 'Battle of Anghiari' mural in Palazzo Vecchio, left unfinished due to technical problems.
David placement committee
Served on committee to decide placement of Michelangelo's statue of David.
Father's death
Father Ser Piero da Vinci died, leading to inheritance disputes with half-brothers.
Studies on Flight
Conducted detailed studies on the flight of birds, compiling the 'Codex on the Flight of Birds' and designing flying machines.
Met Francesco Melzi
Met Count Francesco Melzi, son of Lombard aristocrat, who became his favorite pupil, companion, and principal heir.
Second Milan period
Returned to Milan under French rule, worked for Charles d'Amboise and King Louis XII.
Anatomical studies peak
Conducted extensive anatomical dissections, often in collaboration with Marcantonio della Torre, producing highly detailed drawings.
Inheritance dispute
Traveled to Florence to resolve inheritance dispute with half-brothers over father's estate.
Leda and the Swan
Painted 'Leda and the Swan' (now lost, known through copies), explored themes of fertility and creation.
Moved to Rome
Moved to Rome under patronage of Giuliano de' Medici, brother of Pope Leo X.
Vatican workshop
Given workshop in Belvedere Courtyard of Vatican, worked alongside Michelangelo and Raphael, focused on scientific studies.
Botanical studies
Conducted botanical studies in Vatican Gardens, designed drainage plans for Pontine Marshes.
First stroke
Became ill with what may have been first of multiple strokes affecting his health and ability to paint.
Invited to France
King Francis I of France invited Leonardo to relocate to France with generous terms, appointing him 'First Painter, Engineer and Architect to the King'.
Moved to France
Moved to Clos Lucé manor near Château d'Amboise as guest of King Francis I, accompanied by Melzi and Salaì.
Mechanical lion
Created mechanical lion that walked toward king and opened chest to reveal lilies, for a royal festival.
Right hand paralysis
Suffered paralysis of right hand, likely due to a stroke, confirmed by visitor Cardinal Louis d'Aragon. Continued to draw and teach with his left hand.
Romorantin plans
Drew plans for immense castle town King Francis intended to build at Romorantin, including canal diversions.
Final illness
Became bedridden for several months with final illness.
Made will
Made final will leaving paintings, manuscripts, and instruments to Francesco Melzi; vineyards to Salaì and his servant.
Death
Died at Clos Lucé at age 67, possibly from a stroke. According to Vasari, King Francis I was at his bedside, though this is debated by historians.
Funeral
Buried with sixty beggars carrying tapers following casket, as specified in his will, a sign of Christian piety.
Interment
Remains interred in Collegiate Church of Saint Florentin at Château d'Amboise. The church was later demolished and his presumed remains moved to Chapel of Saint-Hubert.