Early Life

Leonardo di ser da Vinci "Leonardo, (son) of (Mes)ser Piero
from Da Vinci" was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Florence located in Italy. He is the illegitimate son of Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci who was a young lawyor and Caterina who was a peasant.

After Leonardos birth, Ser Piero was quickly persuaded to marry into a wealthy family while Caterina was married off to a cowherd.

Leonardo was taken to be raised and educated in his father's house by Albiera (Leonardos Step-mother) and her mother-in-law, Monna Lucia who was fifty-nine when Leonardo was born.

Leonardo became interested in drawing & painting at a young age. His father showed Leonardos paintings to a painter, Andrea del Verrocchio. He received training in painting, sculpture, and mechanical arts as an apprentice to Andrea del Verrocchio.
According to Art Historian, Giorgio Vasari, Leonardo assisted in painting Verrocchios's Baptism of Christ. Giorgio claimed that Verrocchio was so affected by his pupil's success that he never wanted to paint again.