Leonardo , ser Piero d' Antonio and Caterina's son, was born in Vinci. Since he was a child he showed great artistic skills and his father wanted him to be educated by the painter Andrea Verrocchio. In Verrocchio's workshop he learnt the art of painting. In 1480 he learnt the skill of sculpture at the academy profiting by Lorenzo il Magnifico's protection. In 1482 he was at Ludovico Sforza's , duke of Milan and in 1483 he painted "La Vergine delle Rocce" and he was charged with the painting of the "Cenacolo" in Santa Maria delle Grazie. With the passing of time his interests expanded to new fields: civil engeneering, science, war machines. After having painted the Salone del Gran Consiglio in Palazzo della Signoria, together with Michelangelo, on the 24th of September, 1507 Leonardo and his disciples left Florence to go to Rome: here he undertook his studies of mathematics and science. In May 1513 he was invited by Francesco I, king of France, to go to Amboise where he spent the rest of his life.