5 interesting things about Leonardo da Vinci, history's most famous polymath
His inventions were centuries ahead of his time, his paintings defined the Renaissance – what else do you know about this legendary genius? Read on to find 5 Leonardo da Vinci facts that might surprise you.
#1 He was ambidextrous and wrote from right to left
It's possible to read Leonardo's texts only by looking at them through a mirror. Earlier, a popular theory suggested that he did it to encrypt his writings; today, most researchers agree that da Vinci would use a more complicated secret code to do so. Most probably, he was originally left-handed and it was easier for him to write in reverse.
#2 He was schooled at home
Leonardo never received any formal education in Latin or mathematics. At the age of 15, he started apprenticeship at Andrea del Verrocchio's workshop.
#3 He was an illegitimate offspring
Da Vinci's father was a wealthy lawyer. Very little is known about Leonardo's mother. According to most sources, she was a young peasant woman who gave birth to her son at the age of 15. Leonardo lived with his father, grandparents and uncle. He had 12 half-siblings, as his father remarried multiple times.
#4 He bought and liberated animals that were meant to become food or pets
Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first legendary humans to actively defend the rights of animals. He was a vegetarian and believed that people were also animals, which was completely at odds with the culture of the 16th century.
These Leonardo da Vinci facts prove that he was one of the most outstanding personalities of his time. Later centuries also saw many masterminds – just read these 10 facts about Marie Curie to get surprised.
#5 He never finished the Mona Lisa
Many scientists believe that Leonardo might not have been able to finish his legendary painting due to a severe fainting episode, which left him with an injured arm. Even though he was ambidextrous, Leonardo used only the right hand while working on the Mona Lisa.
If you enjoyed these Leonardo da Vinci facts, try to ace this trivia quiz about him.
Which of these facts about Leonardo da Vinci surprised you the most?
Gain new knowledge and challenge yourself: read more educational articles, take fun trivia quizzes and answer trivia questions.
SHARE this article with everyone interested in HISTORY!
Interesting Facts
7 'recent' things that are much older than you think
6/5/2020
by
Terry Defoe
How much do we really know about the history of things we often see and use? Turns out, some everyday stuff has been around for much longer than we usually think.
5 shocking facts you don't know about Playboy magazine
5/31/2020
by
Rosie
Playboy magazine is a legend. It helped bring in the sexual revolution of 1960s. The magazine has become an established institution that all erotic publicly aspire to emulate. Let’s get ourselves into the history of Playboy and Hugh Hefner, the founder.
5 questions about your body you might not know the answers to
5/28/2020
by
Ferrari
Why is yawning contagious? Why do we cry? Why do we laugh? It's amazing how much we still don't know about ourselves – let's try to find the answers to these and other questions together.
5 cool facts from the New England Patriots history
5/27/2020
by
Polly
This professional American football team with rich history leaves no one indifferent – it's both loved and reviled by millions. If you are into sports, you will find these 5 facts about the New England Patriots fun and interesting.
Snowflakes – close-up pictures and little-known facts 5/25/2020
These tiny snow crystals are thought to be one of the finest and most beautiful creations of nature. Whether you like winter and snow or not, these 6 amazing snowflake facts might surprise you.