One of the greatest geniuses in human history, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) remains in many ways a man of mystery. He was neither a professional artist nor a professional scientist in the full sense of the word, but he created masterpieces that history has no equal to this day. His very name became a symbol of harmony and beauty, perfection and limitlessness of the human mind. However, there are much more myths and “blank spots” in his biography than established facts. The French writer Sophie Chauveau offers her own, in many ways unexpected, look at the life and work of the most famous representative of the Renaissance. The Life of Remarkable People. A series of biographies Founded in 1890 by F. Pavlenkov and continued in 1933 by M. Gorky.