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Source Record

Leonardo da Vinci

Why this source is used

Britannica biography of Leonardo da Vinci covering his Renaissance career, artistic legacy and public reputation.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer What do ancient and early modern queer lives show? They show that same-sex love, queer social spaces and gender nonconformity existed long before modern LGBTQ+ identity language. Read the topic guide Ancient and Early Modern Queer and Gender-Diverse Lives Long before modern LGBTQ+ labels, historical records preserve same-sex love, queer social spaces and gender-diverse lives across empire, courts, taverns and seafaring worlds.

Source Status

Publisher
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Type
organisation
Reliability
medium
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci Accessed 5 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci

Used by Topics

Ancient and Early Modern Queer and Gender-Diverse Lives

Used by Questions

What do ancient and early modern queer lives show?

Used by Timeline Events

9 April 1476 CulturalLegalPeople

Leonardo da Vinci — Sodomy Charge and Renaissance Genius

In Florence, a young Leonardo da Vinci was anonymously accused of sodomy with a male model named Jacopo Saltarelli. The charges were eventually dropped, but the episode shaped da Vinci's intensely private nature for the rest of his life. Despite the risks, da Vinci formed close emotional relationships with male pupils and companions, most notably Gian Giacomo Caprotti (Salaì) and Francesco Melzi. He went on to become one of history's greatest polymaths — painter, sculptor, architect, scientist, and inventor — producing masterworks including the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.