Leonardo da Vinci is indeed the most outstanding figure of the Renaissance period. He made many contributions through his many talents. He was a sculptor, architect, painter, engineer, musician, scientist, and inventor ("Web Museum" 1). This is why he earned himself the nickname as "The Renaissance Man" (Harden 1).Leonardo was born in 1452 in a small town called Anchiano. Anchiano was very close to another town called Vinci, hence his name. In 1466, Leonard went to Florence where he apprenticed for Verrocchio ("Leonardo's" 1). Here, Leonardo worked with such artists as Botticelli, Perugino, and Lorenzo di Credi. There are no known works by Leonardo from 1466 to 1472, but Leonardo learned many techniques from Verrocchio ("Web Museum" 2). The first known and dated work of Leonardo da Vinci is a pen-and-ink drawing of the Arnovalley. Leonardo drew it on August 5, 1473. In 1476, Leonardo and Verrocchio painted the Baptism of Christ. The difference in the artists is best visible in their angels (Alvey 48). In 1483, he left for Milan. He was brought to Milan by Lodovico Sforz to make an equestrian statue in honor of Sforza's father. His first work that he created in Milan was known as the Madonna of the Rocks. Leonardo completed six paintings while he was in Milan, and he would go on to create many more ("Leonardo's" 3). He also worked for the Duke as an engineer. For the Duke, he advised on architecture, military plans, and was also an expert in hydraulic and mechanical engineering ("Web Museum" 2).In 1516, Leonardo da Vinci went to the court of France at Amboise. He was invited there by King Francis I, who always had a tremendous amount of respect for Leonardo. Leonardo lived in Amboise in a small castle which is now called Le Clos Luce. This castle is situated between the town and the king's castle ("Leonardo's" 7). When he lived here, he did not create any more paintings, but he made many hydrological studies. On May 2 of 1519, Leonardo died at the age of 67(Clayton 142).Leonardo da Vinci was a man of two worlds. Despite his homosexuality, His talents encompassed the world of art and the world of science at the same time. This can be seen in every one of his paintings. However, unlike other artists of his era, he separated religion and art (Harden 1).Leonardo was the best artist of his time period. Unlike other artists, Da Vinci made graceful lines which flowed through his paintings. He was a master at linear perspective, and he was amazing at blending one tone into another so that there was not a sudden outline between the foreground and the background (Bramly 82). He often used darker backgrounds to make the center of focus more apparent. His unique style made him a much better artist than Michelangelo and Raphael.Out of all of Leonardo's ideas and paintings, he is most well known for his painting, the Mona Lisa. There...