Here's a brief history of my life . . .
I was educated in my father's house receiving the usual elementary education of reading, writing and arithmetic. In 1467 I became an apprentice learning painting, sculpture and acquiring technical and mechanical skills. I was accepted into the painters' guild in Florence in 1472 but I continued to work as an apprentice until 1477. From that time I worked for himself in Florence as a painter. During this time I sketched pumps, military weapons and other machines. I also began painting.
Between 1482 and 1499 I was in the service of the Duke of Milan. I was described in a list of the Duke's staff as a painter and engineer of the duke. As well as completing six paintings during his time in the Duke's service I also advised on architecture, fortifications and military matters. I was also considered as a hydraulic and mechanical engineer.
During my time in Milan, I became interested in geometry. I read Leon Battista Alberti's books on architecture and Piero della Francesca's On Perspective in Painting. I illustrated Pacioli's Divina proportione and I continued to work with Pacioli but neglected his painting because I became so engrossed in geometry.
I studied Euclid and Pacioli's Suma and began my own geometry research, sometimes giving mechanical solutions. I gave several methods of squaring the circle, again using mechanical methods. I wrote a book, around this time, on the elementary theory of mechanics which appeared in Milan around 1498.
Around this time I realised the possibility of constructing a telescope.
In 1499 the French armies entered Milan and the Duke was defeated. Some months later I left Milan together with Pacioli. I travelled to Mantua, Venice and finally reached Florence. Although I was under constant pressure to paint, mathematical studies kept me away from my painting activity much of the time. I was for a time employed by Cesare Borgia as a senior military architect and general engineer.
By 1503 I was back in Florence advising on the project to divert the River Arno behind Pisa to help with the siege of the city which the Florentines were engaged in. I then produced plans for a canal to allow Florence access to the sea. The canal was never built nor was the River Arno diverted.
In 1506 I returned for a second period in Milan. again my scientific work took precedence over my painting and I was involved in hydrodynamics, anatomy, mechanics, mathematics and optics. I did miss painting so . . .
In 1513 the French were removed from Milan and I moved again, this time to Rome. I later accepted an invitation from King Francis the I to enter his service in France.
The French King gave me the title of:
First painter, Architect, and Mechanic of the King
Around this time I finished some of my works such as, St. John the Baptist, Mona Lisa and the Virgin and Child with St Anne. After that I spent most of my time arranging and editing my scientific studies.
I then moved to Sparks, Nevada and was adopted by the Acker/Fitzpatrick family to live a life of solitude and never paint again . . .
All I am is just a dog who needs attention. That’s all I live for, is your acceptance . . .
