In the latter stages of the fifteenth century, Leonardo da Vinci, as a part of the Italian Renaissance, used his innovative ideas to further science and art. This insight revolutionized the thinking of his society. "The Renaissance was poised between the humanists' links to antiquity and the challenges of new social, political, economic, scientific, and ecclesiastical developments" (Reti, 22). Leonardo da Vinci was one of "the most diverse and enigmatic talent (s) of the Renaissance" (Bishop, 209). He displayed "genius" in almost all of the arts, sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Da Vinci is reported as "being jus about the smartest person ever", "he was indeed a man of both worlds". (http://www.mos.org/leonardo/bio.html) (http://www.library.thinkquest.org/3044.int_over.html) <Tab/>Leonard was born April fifteenth, fourteen fifty-two to, twenty-five year old, Piero da Vinci who was a village lawyer and notary. His mother was a peasant girl named Caterina. He was given the surname da Vinci denoting that he came from the small country town Vinci, where he spent most of his childhood. After da Vinci's birth, his father took custody of him, while his mother married an artisan and moved away. Leonardo grew on his grandparent's farm. He was treated as a legitimate son by his grandparents and received the usual elementary education: reading, writing, and arithmetic. During his early education, a special gift for drawing was revealed. As a result of Leonardo's artistic ability at the age of fifteen, his father took him to Florence to study with Andrea del Verrocchio, a leading painter and sculptor. He "was at least the equal of Verrocchio - if not his superior" (Buchholz, 11). Leonardo was accepted into the artist's guild of Florence. While studying with Verrocchio, da Vinci worked next-door in the workshop of Antonio Pollaiuolo, where he was introduced and first drawn to the study of anatomy. Leonardo then went to work in Milan where he spent seventeen years of his life. He worked as an artist and technical adviser on architecture and engineering projects. It was during those years that he painted the "Last Supper" as well as some of his other well-known works. <Tab/>Da Vinci's revolutionary thoughts and ideas helped to satisfy his curiosity as well as advanced his people's culture. "He was one of the greatest scientific minds ever to have lived". (http://library.thinkquest.org/3044/int_over.html) "Leonardo filled pages of his notebooks with thousands of sketches and designs that attest to his keen insight" (Bishop, 209). Some of his sketches consisted of: movement of water, the motion of birds' flight, and the circulation of blood. "His notes showed that he was something of an eccentric". (http://yesnect.yk.ca//schools.projects/middlesages/leonardo.html) Leonardo was fascinated with the human body. His interest in anatomy came from studying for his painting. He jotted down thoughts in preparation of writing a textbook on human anatomy. Although his paintings only consisted of the outer physical appearance, "he wished to understand the inner structure of the body as well, and how bones, muscles, and sinews functioned together" (Buchholz, 70). Leonard set out on a mission to research the human body. He worked with an anatomy professor, Marcantonis della Torre, to obtain his knowledge. After this consultation, da Vinci was able to form a clear drawing of the human inner body. His drawings were more precise than any others of his time. Leonardo's understanding of the human body not only gave him a better overall perspective, but benefited his society as well. He took his newly gained knowledge and presented it in his art. Leonardo discovered that human and animal anatomies were similar. He studied the principle laws of mass, force, and movement to get a better understanding of flight. Da Vinci used the bird as his prime example. He had models of parachutes, sketches of a helicopter/air screw, and large crossbow. He was only able to build small models to test his ideas. He did not have the supplies to construct real life-size models. Leonardo's sketches and thoughts had a great influence on our helicopters, and parachutes of today. Da Vinci's understanding of aerodynamics, machines, process, and flight were not put to use until years after his death. Eventually they were refined and are used in our society today. "Today it would be hard to imagine what type of modern life we would have if it wasn't for Da Vinci's initial sketches and incredible brainstorms". (http://library.thinkquest.org/3044.int_sci.html) <Tab/>"Leonardo's mastery of drawing and pictorial mood ranks his as one of the greatest painters ever to live" (Bishop, 210). Only seventeen of his painting shave survived, though some are unfinished. Da Vinci used his knowledge of anatomy to make his paintings and sculptures more precise and realistic. He was fascinated by natural form. Da Vinci believed that men should try to learn and develop as much knowledge as possible. The "Mona Lisa", and the "Last Supper" are among the most famous paintings in the world. Chiesa say of the "Last Supper", "in it's monumental simplicity, the composition of the scene is masterful; the power of it's effect comes from the most striking contrast in the attitudes of the twelve disciples as counterpoised to Christ" (Chiesa, 943) The colors used in the Last Supper have faded badly, but it still shows Leonardo's knowledge of anatomy and perspective. The "Mona Lisa" "has mysterious and ambiguous psychological depths" (Reti, 24) Through his drawings Leonardo wanted to relay to his people that,"the entire body is animated by the sound, every limb takes part in expressing feelings, passions- indeed, even thoughts" (Buchholz, 46). Da Vinci placed much importance on teaching. He developed the School of Leonardo, to theca designs of painting. He tutored his students on how to portray their emotions and thoughts through paintings. "Italian Renaissance art enjoyed a prestige that cannot be matched by any other artistic epoch" (Reti, 22). Leonardo da Vinci was one of the great artists of the Italian Renaissance. "The most important thing that happened during the Italian Renaissance was the emergence of ideas which led to the rationalization of sight" (Reti, 22). During the Renaissance "art became valued - not merely as a vehicle for religious and social didacticism, but even more as a mode of personal, aesthetic expression". (http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/renaissance/it.html) <Tab/>Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of both science and art truly revolutionized our world. "Each aspect of these sketches has been incorporated to better our society". (http://library.thinkquest.org/3044/intskch.html) "Leonardo's scientific drawings of human life have captivated scientist and doctors alike for years". (http://library.thinkquest.org/3044/int skch.html) Leonardo was most definitely a man before his time. "Western Civilization has probably never known a greater or more restless intelligence" (Bishop, 209).