Leonardo da Vinci. Unknown famous person.

About this person you know like a lot, but all the facts are shrouded in doubt. We don't even know his face.
Why it was decided to consider this image, a self portrait of Leonardo.

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Although there is another picture of Leonardo.

Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, presumably the work of his pupil, Francesco Melzi. 1510-1512. Portrait of a little fixed by Leonardo.
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Even the place of birth is not known. It is believed that this small Italian town of Vinci located near Florence.
We don't know to which family belonged to Leonardo. After all, the prefix "da Vinci" simply means the place of birth. Leonardo was born in 1452 and died in 1519

During his lifetime, he had many admirers and well-wishers.
Michelangelo considered Leonardo dropout and called "Milanese violinist". Although it is difficult to find the creative geniuses who do not consider themselves the only and inimitable.
Despite the opinion of Michelangelo, Leonardo had a lot of orders to create paintings.
The truth is most it is never finished, but worked on them for several years.

This gives occasion to the enemies of Leonardo to say that he was not so great, and just knew how to manipulate people.
After all, the description of BES Brockhaus and Efron:

"Vinchi was a beautiful, well built, possessed great physical strength, was well-versed in knightly arts, horse riding, dancing, fencing".

There is also a summary written by Leonardo, which he wrote to Ludovico Sforza, ruler of Milan:

Most Reverend sir, enough watching for the handiwork of those obnoxious upstarts who imagine themselves to be true masters and inventors of instruments of war, and finally making sure that the operation and use of these guns in any respect not different from those commonly used on the battlefields, I took the liberty of without any harm for third parties to offer to Your Majesty their services, in order to acquaint You with my secrets; then I could at any convenient time for You to fully give yourself to Your gracious disposal, and to demonstrate to You all the fixtures which I've briefly listed.

1. I have finished drawings of bridges, very light and strong — despite the fact that their construction does not require special papers.
2. In case of a siege any town, I know exactly how to pump out water towers and moats and how to construct an infinite number of scaling ladders, and other useful tools.
3. If because of the height of the rampart and strength of the city or because of its particularly favorable location, it proved impossible to crush it by throwing cores, I know the correct techniques of destroying any citadel or fortress, even if she stands on a rock.
4. I have the drawings for the manufacture of artillery guns, very convenient and easy to carry, using the same thereof, it is possible to shower the enemy with a hail of small stones.
5. In case of naval battles, I have the blueprints to build all sorts of ingenious devices that best suit for both offense and defense, and ships which can resist the fire of the powerful guns, for these should not afraid of no gunpowder, no smoke.
6. Besides, I know how to go with the army to any place where Your Majesty is willing to pass, making his way cleverly caves and winding tunnels, which burrow in such a way that no one would hear the slightest noise — even if this would make a tunnel under the river.
7. In addition, I know how to make a wagon covered with iron, safe, secure and unassailable; equipped with cannons, they saw crash into the serried ranks of the enemy, and no army, however well it were armed, could to resist them. And reaching behind them, the infantry can move forward without any damage to itself, without encountering on its way any resistance.
8. And, if that need arises, I am able to produce guns, mortars and light artillery pieces, very handsome and refined, but also very easy to handle and is quite different from those that apply everywhere.
9. Where it is impossible to use artillery, I can provide the army with ballistae, catapults, ladders and other remarkably effective devices, no one else from our enemies. In short, no matter how evolved the circumstances, I can provide you with any number of various offensive and defensive weapons.
10. In peacetime I like to think, better than any other is able to fully satisfy all Your needs in terms of architecture and construction of buildings, both for public and for private purposes, and water from one place to another.
11. Also, I know how to sculpt sculptures of marble, bronze and clay; I can do also painting in which my work can withstand comparison with the works of any other master, whoever he was.
12. Moreover, I am ready to start working on casting the bronze horse, which doliente to perpetuate the blessed memory of Your August father and glorify the offspring of the imperishable glory of the Sforza. And if any of the above-mentioned things seem impossible or else impossible, I propose You experience me in Your hunting grounds or any other place where it will pleases Your Highness, to whom I now with all humility offer you my humble services.
    Leonardo da Vinci 1482

Such a summary like any noneshnie employer.

But to deny the genius of his paintings is impossible.

Around the most famous painting still curls a bunch of scientists.

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All not haunted by the mysterious smile. The elation left corner of the lip see the nervous TIC, the signs of a heart attack. But at the initial stage, that smile was not. She was already finished.
If you close half of the face in the picture, it turns out that the right side she smiles, the left builds a grimace.
There is much debate who portrayed the artist.Prior to version that he painted himself.

Near Leonardo had Salai, 26 years old. Evil tongues attributed to him as a lover, Leonardo. And there are reasons. Leonardo was never married.
Of course they claim that Leonardo wrote Mona Lisa with his assistant.
As Leonardo all the time carried a picture and bequeathed it to Salai.

But the mystery of the painting does not end there. There is another image of the Mona Lisa.

"Italyanskaya Mona Lisa"
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Previously, this painting was considered a copy, but in 2013, the Foundation of the Mona Lisa stated that this is an earlier version also painted by Leonardo.

Leonardo there is another famous painting which does not give rest to researchers.

The last supper
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The main mystery of who sits at the right hand of Jesus. Some argue that this is the Evangelist John the Theologian.
But there are researchers seeing clearly feminine traits, claiming that this is Mary Magdalene.

If a character sitting near the right hand of Joshua to move on the left hand, the head will be exactly on the shoulder of Jesus. And it gives reason to assume that Leonardo painted it Mary Magdalene, although then the question arises where another Apostle.

Also puzzling is the hand with the knife sticking out from behind. She clearly could not belong to anyone of those who is depicted on the mural.

About this hand there is also a hypothesis. Supposedly it is the hand of Leonardo himself, and he threatens with a knife the Catholic Church.

Leonardo is famous not only for paintings. He is credited with many anatomical image of the person.

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Legend has it that Leonardo secretly buying human corpses from the morgue and dissected them at night, as this was forbidden by the Church.

In addition, he drew all sorts of technical ideas.
For example a tank.

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A portable machine gun.

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Someone admires these technical drawings, but there are pessimists who claim that painting was not working and useless.

There are maps, which are attributed to Leonardo.

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The name Leonardo is shrouded in many myths and mysteries. He is credited with the creation of the shroud of Turin, where he allegedly portrayed himself.
There is a whole series of parables and fables that are attributed to Peru Leonardo.

One thing is for sure. Probably there is no such person from the 15th century, the legacy of which is so great.
And it raises a lot of questions.