Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest painter, scientist, writer and historian born during the Great Renaissance of Italy, is recognized as the "Cosmic Man." He laid the foundation of the cosmic expanses of'science and art' by connecting the human imagination with the universal consciousness with his mind and creating his immortal masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, immortalized in history.

Even today, Mona Lisa's mysterious smile is a reflection of the highest level of art in the world of painting. Da Vinci told the people of art and knowledge through his writings, "Art practice without knowledge is useless; he who does not know mathematics cannot find the details of my art." His drawings and sketches made possible the great development and expansion of current science and technology.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, his works left indelible marks in inventions, architecture, music, mathematics, engineering, mechanics and dynamics, geology, astronomy and cosmology, literature and culture, history, sculpture and cartography.

He was awarded the titles of 'Universal Genius' and 'Renaissance Humanist Idolman'. He was an advocate of world government, for whom knowledge was the heritage of humanity. Leonardo da Vinci was a free spirit in a staunchly religious environment, whose photographs and notebooks taught man to be angelic, saying, "There is goodness in the nature of nature." His words on the art of painting are still an inspiration for painters.

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Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in a farmhouse near Vinci, a town in Florence under the rule of the Medes. His father, Sir Peru, was considered among the nobles and landlords of the city. Leonardo received a traditional early education in reading, writing and arithmetic. When he was 15 years old, his father gave him an apprenticeship under the famous painter Andrea del Verocchio, where he gained access to technical and mechanical arts in addition to painting and sculpture in the famous workshop. He was not interested in Latin at first, but by the time he was thirty, he had studied classical Latin, advanced geometry and arithmetic with great dedication and reached the heights of the world of painting. In 1472, he was accepted into the painters guild of Florence.

Leonardo moved to Milan in 1482 to work under Duke Ludovico Sforza, where he stayed for 17 years. There he got the title of Duke's painter and engineer. In Milan, he was a technical advisor in construction, fortification and military affairs, apart from his masterpieces in painting and sculpture. He also worked as a hydraulics and mechanical engineer. His greatest work as a painter was The Last Supper (1495–98 AD), the artistic sophistication of which has not been equaled till date.

Leonardo left the city with his assistant Salai and mathematician friend Luca Piccioli at the start of the Second Italian War in 1499, when Milan was under French occupation. From Milan, he arrived in Venice, where he was appointed as a military architect and engineer to devise strategies for the defense of the city against naval attacks.

In 1500, he came from Venice to his native Florence, and the people gave him a warm welcome and said, "Our famous son has come to Florence." In the winter of 1502, he entered the service of Cesare Borgia (son of Pope Alexander VI) as a senior military architect and general engineer, during which time he traveled throughout Italy. In 1503, he returned to Florence to work on another engineering project. In the same year, Leonardo received a prize for mural painting. During this period, he also worked on his famous painting, the Mona Lisa.

Forced by the political situation of 1513, the 60-year-old Leonardo da Vinci once again arrived in Milan and from there he came to Rome with his painter students. At that time, great art was being promoted in Rome. During his stay in France, he produced fewer photographs, concentrating mostly on scientific research. On May 2, 1519, at the age of 67, Leonardo da Vinci left for the unknown in the city of Clos Lucie, France.

Francis I said about him, "There will never be another who knows me like him, not even a painter, sculptor and architect!" After Leonardo da Vinci's departure, his loyal disciple and painter, Velazi, took over Leonardo's artistic and scientific estate.