Leonardo Da Vinci

Dive into the untold stories and secret codes hidden within Da Vinci's works - what did he know that we don’t

Leonardo da Vinci is like one of those people you can’t quite stop thinking about, the kind who leaves you wondering if you ever really knew them at all. People call him a genius, a visionary, a mystery wrapped up in masterpieces and equations, a man who hid secret messages in the folds of a painted robe or the curvature of a tree. But maybe - just maybe - we’ve exaggerated him into something he never intended to be.

What if all the rumours, all the whispers of secret societies, hidden symbols, and forbidden love, are just shadows we cast onto his legacy, not clues he left for us to uncover? It’s possible, isn’t it, that he was just a man with a fascination for nature, a scientist-artist hybrid who left us with more questions than answers. And maybe that’s why we’re still fascinated with him: because the real secret of Leonardo da Vinci is that we’ll never fully know him, and we can’t help but keep searching, hoping to find meaning in the mystery.

His Early Years

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in  Vinci, a small but culturally rich town nestled in the Tuscan hills of Italy. He was the son of Ser Piero da Vinci, a well-respected and affluent notary, and Caterina, a local woman of humble origins. Though Ser Piero and Caterina were not married, resulting in Leonardo’s status as an illegitimate child, his father chose to acknowledge him - a decision that would shape Leonardo’s life in profound ways.

Being born out of wedlock meant that Leonardo didn’t inherit his father’s surname. Instead, he adopted "da Vinci," meaning "from Vinci," which became both a personal identifier and a nod to his origins that stayed with him throughout his life. Despite his illegitimacy, Ser Piero took an active role in Leonardo’s upbringing, providing him with a stable and comfortable environment that was rare for children in his position. Under his father’s care, Leonardo had access to a level of education and resources that would have otherwise been unavailable to him. This access to books, learning, and influential figures fostered his early curiosity and creative spirit.

Leonardo spent his childhood surrounded by the natural beauty of the Tuscan landscape, which would later inspire the backgrounds and scenes in his art. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in observing the world around him, from the way light played on the hills to the movements of water and clouds. Living in Vinci, he absorbed the region’s artistic traditions and was exposed to a community of painters, sculptors, and craftsmen, which greatly influenced his artistic development. This early blend of nature, art, and intellectual freedom helped lay the groundwork for Leonardo’s future as a visionary artist, scientist, and inventor, whose work would blend observation with creativity to inspire generations to come.

Leonardo’s Transformative Years

At the age of 15, his father apprenticed him to the esteemed workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. Even as a young apprentice, Leonardo’s exceptional talent was evident. This brilliance is showcased in several works created by Verrocchio’s workshop between 1470 and 1475. A notable early milestone came when he painted an angel for Verrocchio’s Baptism of Christ; his work was so remarkable that, according to legend, Verrocchio swore never to paint again. Leonardo remained in Verrocchio’s workshop until 1477.

In 1482, seeking new challenges and a more prosperous future, Leonardo left Florence to enter the service of Duke Ludovico Sforza in Milan. This decision marked a turning point in his life, as he abandoned his unfinished commission, The Adoration of the Magi, and embarked on a 17-year journey that would cement his legacy as one of the greatest minds in both art and science.

The Duke kept Leonardo constantly engaged with painting, sculpting, and designing elaborate court festivals, but he also called on him to tackle more technical tasks, such as creating weapons, architectural plans, and various machines. His notebooks from this time are filled with designs for advanced weaponry, like tanks and other war machines, as well as innovative combat devices and even a prototype for a submarine.

During the 1480s and 1490s, he produced some of his most enduring masterpieces, including The Last Supper (1495-1498), a mural famous for its emotional depth and meticulous use of perspective, capturing the climactic moment of betrayal with breathtaking precision. 

Leonardo's curiosity went beyond machines and art; he became deeply interested in studying the human body. Starting around 1489 and especially between 1507 and 1513, he dissected human bodies to learn more, making detailed sketches of muscles, bones, and organs. His famous drawing, the Vitruvian Man, showed what he thought were ideal body proportions. He was also one of the first to draw the human heart accurately, showing its chambers and valves, and even suggested that blood circulates through the body - an idea that wasn’t widely accepted until much later.

As his work developed, he painted the Mona Lisa between 1503 and 1506. This portrait is famous for its mysterious smile and the soft blending of shadows and light, which gives it a lifelike feel. While he likely finished it in 1506, some experts think he may have added final touches as late as 1517.

Having glimpsed the depths of his genius, we might wonder: what is it about this man that keeps the world so captivated, even centuries later?

Da Vinci’s Alleged Connection to the Priory of Sion

The Priory of Sion is said to be an ancient and mysterious organization with origins tracing back to the medieval period, possibly even further. According to claims, the society was founded in the 11th century in Jerusalem and carried forward the secret knowledge of the Holy Grail and the bloodline of Jesus Christ. In the modern world, the Priory of Sion became widely known due to the 1982 publication of Holy Blood, Holy Grail, which suggested that Leonardo da Vinci, along with other historical figures like Isaac Newton and Botticelli, were associated with the secret society.

As with many of Leonardo’s works, the Mona Lisa has also become embroiled in the mythology surrounding the Priory of Sion. In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown presents the idea that the Mona Lisa holds clues to the hidden truth about Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as her supposed bloodline. Some proponents of the Priory of Sion theory claim that the smile is a secret code revealing the true identity of the Grail. Others have gone as far as to claim that the figure in the painting is actually a representation of Mary Magdalene herself, rather than a fictionalized portrait of Lisa Gherardini.

While these theories are speculative and lack historical evidence, they have nonetheless added an air of mystique to the Mona Lisa, elevating it beyond just a simple portrait to an object of esoteric fascination.

If da Vinci had indeed been a grand master of the Priory of Sion, the claim implies he held secret knowledge that the society aimed to protect - knowledge about the Holy Grail, sacred geometry, or possibly even the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, according to some interpretations.

The idea of a secret society fits with the mystery and uniqueness of his life. His notebooks, filled with backwards writing, strange sketches, and studies of taboo topics like human anatomy, give the impression that he may have been hiding messages or clues in his work. 

However, most historians have dismissed this theory, especially the idea of da Vinci being part of a secret society, as a modern invention created by Pierre Plantard in the 1960s. There is no solid evidence linking da Vinci to such a group. Still, the theory has captured people's imaginations, sparking ongoing discussions about hidden knowledge and secret codes.

The Apprenticeship of a Lifetime

Leonardo spent a significant portion of his life surrounded by young men, particularly as he mentored apprentices in his workshop. One of the most notable was Gian Giacomo Caprotti, a youth known as Salai. Salai entered Leonardo’s life when he was just 10 years old and remained in his service for over 20 years. Many historians have pointed out the peculiar nature of their relationship. Giorgio Vasari, the renowned biographer of Renaissance artists, described Salai as “handsome” and noted that da Vinci was "very fond" of him. Some records suggest that Salai may have been more than just an apprentice; they were possibly companions, and da Vinci even painted portraits of him. This has led many to speculate about a deeper, more intimate relationship between the two.

In his notebook, Leonardo described Salai as “a thief, a liar, and a glutton,” yet he seemed to tolerate his faults, perhaps out of affection, as evidenced by the numerous references to Salai in da Vinci’s writings. Could Leonardo have had romantic or sexual feelings for him? Though there is no direct evidence, the closeness of their bond has long been the subject of speculation.

Legacy of a Hidden Life

In the end, perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Leonardo’s life is its mystery. His legacy is not confined to the question of his sexual orientation or his possible involvement to a secret society, , but rather to his groundbreaking achievements as an artist, scientist, and thinker. 

As we continue to explore da Vinci’s personal life, we are reminded that sometimes, the most fascinating stories are those that remain hidden in plain sight. In Leonardo’s case, the unanswered questions—about his sexuality, his connections to secret societies, and the mysteries embedded in his works—only add to the intrigue of his unparalleled genius.