The incredible polymath Leonardo da Vinci died 500 years ago on this day aged sixty-seven. In his lifetime the artist, architect and philosopher changed the world with his exquisite art, in an unending quest to understand the world around us, but he is also one of the most cited artists in contemporary pop culture. From the enormous success of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci code to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s pose in front of the Mona Lisa, his name (although often incorrectly shortened to “Da Vinci”) is known the world over. He even has a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle named after him. To commemorate the anniversary of his death, various exhibitions are taking place internationally including Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing at various locations across the UK, and a major exhibition at the Louvre.
