This was before modern naming conventions developed in Europe. Therefore, his full name was "Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci", which means "Leonardo, son of Piero, from Vinci". Leonardo himself simply signed his works "Leonardo" or "Io, Leonardo" ("I, Leonardo"). Most authorities therefore refer to his works as "Leonardos", not "da Vincis". Presumably he did not use his father's name because of his illegitimate status.
Leonardo grew up with his father in Florence. He was a vegetarian throughout his life. He became an apprentice to painter Andrea del Verrocchio about 1466. Later, he became an independent painter in Florence.
In 1476 he was anonymously accused of homosexual contact with a 17-year-old model, Jacopo Saltarelli, a notorious prostitute. He was charged, along with three other young men, with homosexual conduct. However, he was acquitted because of lack of evidence. For a time Leonardo and the others were under the watchful eye of Florence's "Officers of the Night" — a kind of Renaissance vice squad.
That Leonardo was homosexual is generally accepted. His longest-running relationship was with a beautiful delinquent Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno, whom he nicknamed Salai (Little Devil), who entered his household at the age of 10. Leonardo supported Salai for twenty five years, and he left Salai half his vineyard in his will.
From 1478 to 1499 Leonardo worked for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan and maintained his own workshop with apprentices there. Seventy tons of bronze that had been set aside for Leonardo's "Gran Cavallo" horse statue were cast into weapons for the Duke in an attempt save Milan from the French under Charles VIII in 1495 — see also Italian Wars.
When the French returned under Louis XII in 1498, Milan fell without a fight, overthrowing Sforza. Leonardo stayed in Milan for a time, until one morning he found French archers using his life-size clay model for the "Gran Cavallo" for target practice. He left with his servant and assistant Salai (a.k.a. Gian Giacomo Caprotti) and his friend (and inventor of double-entry bookkeeping) Luca Pacioli for Mantua, moving on after 2 months for Venice, then moving again to Florence at the end of April 1500.
In Florence he entered the services of Cesare Borgia (also called "Duca Valentino" and son of Pope Alexander VI) as a military architect and engineer. In 1506 he returned to Milan, now in the hands of Maximilian Sforza after Swiss mercenaries drove out the French.
In 1507 Leonardo met a 15 year old aristocrat of great personal beauty, Count Francesco Melzi. Melzi became his pupil, life companion, and heir.
From 1513 to 1516 he lived in Rome, where painters like Raphael and Michelangelo were active at the time; he did not have much contact with these artists, however.
In 1515 Francis I of France retook Milan, and Leonardo was commissioned to make a centrepiece (of a mechanical lion) for the peace talks in Bologna between the French king and Pope Leo X, where he must have first met the king. In 1516, he entered Francis' service, being given the use of the manor house Clos Luce next to the king's residence at the Royal Chateau at Amboise, and receiving a generous pension. The king became a close friend.
He died in Cloux, France in 1519. According to his wish, 60 beggars followed his casket. He was buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert in the castle of Amboise.
Откопала у себя в заметах. Если что, можешь сократить ненужные моменты)
Thank you for your letter. It was nice to hear from you.
I would like to tell you about my weekend. My last weekend was not monotonous. On Friday, I was staying at home and watching TV. My friend arrived and we were watching a film on the computer in the evening. This movie was called "Too fast too furious 3" and it was very interesting. On Sunday, I was relaxing all day at home. In the morning, I remembered that I had homework; so I did it. In the evening, I was watching TV and afterwards I went to bed.
I think my rest depends on the season, because in winter I walk less than in summer. In summer there are a lot of entertainments!
I prefer to spend my weekends with my parents and friends because I have a lot of fun with them. I love my weekend and my family!
Please, write about your weekend.
Best wishes,
Ivanи перевод
Дорогой Алекс,
за твое письмо. Приятно было получить весточку от тебя.
Я хотел бы рассказать тебе о моих выходных. Мой последний уйкенд не был однообразный. В пятницу я остался дома и смотрел телевизор. Пришел мой друг и мы вечером смотрели фильм на компьютере. Этот фильм назывался «Слишком быстро, слишком яростно - 3", и это было очень интересно. В воскресенье я отдыхал весь день дома. Утром я вспомнил, что у меня было домашнее задание, поэтому я сделал его. Вечером смотрел телевизор, а потом пошел спать.
Я думаю, что мой отдых зависит от сезона, потому что зимой я меньше гуляю на улице, чем летом. Летом есть много развлечений!
Я предпочитаю проводить свои выходные со своими родителями и друзьями, потому что мы с ними много веселимся. Я люблю свои выходные и свою семью!
напиши о твоих выходных.
С наилучшими пожеланиями,
Иван