Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. He was educated at home and later served as an apprentice in painting and sculpture. From 1482 to 1499, Leonardo served an engineer and painter to the Duke of Milan. Following the defeat of the duke by the French, he worked in Venice, Florence, Rome, and finally France, where he died on May 2, 1519.
The very definition of a renaissance man, Leonardo was a master of painting, sculpture, engineering, architecture, and mathematics. He is best known for his marvelous inventions, many of which anticipated modern devices. In mathematics, Leonardo was most interested in geometry, and particularly in constructions using straightedge and compass.