Leonardo da Vinci was a gifted painter, talented musician, and dedicated
scientist and inventor, designing flying machines, submarines, and even
helicopters. Yet he had a hard time finishing things, a problem anyone
can relate to. Only thirteen paintings are known to be his; as for the
illustrated encyclopedia he intended to create, all that he left were
thousands of disorganized notebook pages. Here is an accessible portrait
of a fascinating man who lived at a fascinating time--Italy during the
Renaissance.