Leonardo da Vinci was an italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician (this background of Vinci being a musician was not one of his significant trade marks to his name), an engineer, and a scientist. Leonardo was born in a hill village located in Tuscany near Vinci, Italy (this trades back to his last name, as at that era you were named your last name by where your birth took place). Although he was born the illegitimate son of a Florentine notary, Ser Piero and a peasant woman, Caterina, Leonardo persisting through his dedication, leadership, and his ability to be a creative and critical thinker, to make his mark in history. Unlike the artistic styles of the earlier middle Ages, which situated more importance on symbolism than reality (as seen on the Duccio Maesta), renaissance art was more life-like and contained …show more content…
Painters of the renaissance began to depict the human form with increasing accuracy, which was enabled by a better understanding of human Anatomy through his countless sketches. Some of his many inventions such as the world renowned Flying Machine of which was inspired by his interest in bird flight as well as the Armored car (the tank) as he was a man of his time and the need for military engineers provided him with travel opportunities, employment, and the chance to continue his scientific work unhindered as well as many patrons from rich families such as the Medici family who ruled Florence. Firearms in renaissance times were inaccurate and suffered from a slow rate of fire. Leonardo, in his design for a multi-barreled cannon made in 1481 (military use), sought to overcome the slow rate of fire by it’s systematical and accurate performance. These breech loading, water-cooled guns were years ahead of their time and its interesting to note that steam cannons were used in World War II. But these inventions are merely fractions of the 15 popular out of millions of ideas that go beyond our