Leonardo da Vinci is one of the best-known geniuses in human history. This man masters knowledge of all kinds: painting, architecture, music, geology, philosophy, biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. Arguably his most famous painting, Mona Lisa, has fascinated millions of people around the world, and the astonishing and mysterious details in the painting attracted numerous scientists and scholars to dedicate their entire careers to the study. Born and living in the Italian Renaissance, a time when the arts flourished and knowledge was valued, Leonardo was surrounded by many great contemporary artists and a perfect creative environment. These favorable factors helped him to fully exercise his talent. As a writer, Leonardo often recorded his reflections on various topics. And it is through some of his words that have survived to this day that we can glimpse how his great mind worked. Leonardo was born in a small town in Tuscany, Italy, called Vinci, on April 15, 1452. In those days, not all people had surnames; only those who were rich and powerful deserved it. Therefore, when people call him “Leonardo da Vinci” today, “da Vinci” actually means “da Vinci” in Italian. His talent for painting was recognized by his family and neighbors when he was still a boy, and he began his painting career at a very young age. At 14 he was sent to Florence by his father to learn from Verrocchio, who at the time owned an important workshop. It is said that when he collaborated with Verrocchio on the Baptism of Christ, his skill was so much better than that of his teacher whom Verrocchio left half-finished and never painted again throughout his life. 1Leonardo's pictorial ability is undoubted. His obsession was above all with beauty... middle of paper... the Renaissance age in Italy cultivated many of the most accomplished artists to date. It is a time when talented people are given the opportunity to fully apply their abilities and to learn and compete with their peers. It is also a period in which artists begin to be treated as unique individuals with their own artistic style and characteristics. Just as Leonardo writes in his notes: “The painter will create paintings of little value if he takes the paintings of others as models... Giotto, the Florentine, who was not content with imitating the works of his master Cimabue... excelled not only all masters of his time but all those of many past centuries..." 3People must be recognized and respected for their abilities; in this way they are encouraged to produce better works in return. Leonardo and the Renaissance age in which he lived are concrete proof of this.