Леонардо Да Винчи

Although he was born in Vinci, Leonardo thought of himself as a Florentine; in documents he called himself ‘Leonardo da Vinci, Florentine’ or even just ‘Leonardo Florentine’. He probably lived there for about twenty years of his life, at different times. Florence was famous in Italy and beyond for its artists, and t was the place where he learned his art.
Leonardo lived through times of peace and war in Italy. Florence was mostly peaceful while he lived there. The city, and large area of Tuscany round it, was governed by a big group of rich businessmen. There was a strong interest in art, literature and learning in Florence and much of Italy at this time. Many rich men and women wanted to spend money on new paintings and sculpture for their houses and for the churches and other buildings where they went to religious services. Leonardo’s first paintings were for men and women like these.