Leonardo da Vinci was born out of wedlock in 1452 in Vinci, Italy. He showed an early talent for drawing and was apprenticed to artist Andrea del Verrochio. Da Vinci is renowned for his paintings The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa, known for its mysterious smile and innovative techniques. Throughout his life, Da Vinci made detailed sketches and notes on science, invention, anatomy and more. He spent 30 years meticulously documenting his experiments, though he left many artistic works unfinished at his death in 1519.