The Life of Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci was a man of many worlds. He was a great influence on his time and of the time of today. Leonardo was known as many things, he was known as a sculptor, architect, writer, musician, philosopher, engineer, and scientist, but most of all he was known for his impressive paintings that influenced the world. Leonardo was born in Anchiano, Italy on April 15, 1452, to Piero da Vinci, a prominent public official in Florence, and a peasant woman named Caterina. He was born out of wed lock and shortly after his birth they were married, but not to each other. Caterina married a man named Antonio, a