Leonardo first gained notoriety for his work on the Baptism of Christ, painted in conjunction with Verrocchio. Both both of which are Annunciations.
In the early 16th century maps were rare and often inaccurate. Leonardo produced several accurate maps such as the town plan of Imola.
As Leonardo became successful as an artist, he was given permission to dissect human corpses at the hospital Santa Maria Nuova in Florence.
For an artist working in the 15th century, some study of the nature of light was essential. It was by the painting of light falling on a surface.
Leonardo illustrated a book on mathematical proportion in art written by his close friend Luca Pacioli and called De divina proportione.
Leonardo kept a series of journals in which he wrote almost daily, as well as separate notes and sheets of observations, comments and plans.
Leonardo began the formal study of the topographical anatomy of the human body when apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio.
