Full Name: Leonardo da Vinci

Lived Between: 1452-1519

Nationality: Italian

Primary Occupation: Genius and Artist; not a "true" mathematician per se, but Leonardo's such an inspiring force, that he will forever deserve a spot on any site that cares about science and mathematics.

Claim to Fame: Painter, sculptor, draughtsman, architect, engineer, anatomist, physicist, astronomer, observer of life in all its forms, and most of all, great thinker. Leonardo is one of our history's most admired geniuses, centuries ahead of his time, one of the first artists to seamlessly merge science and art. Although he only completed 6 major paintings in his entire career, they include some of the most important images ever known.

Recommended Book: Leonardo Lives: The Codex Leicester and Leonardo Da Vinci's Legacy of Art and Science -- Trevor Fairbrother, Chiyo Ishikawa; Paperback

Recommended Link: www.famouspainter.com/leonardo.htm