“Who is Leonardo da Vinci?” When someone asks this question, our first answer will likely involve a certain unsmiling, painted lady. But his genius extends beyond the paintbrush. When da Vinci wasn’t perfecting (and procrastinating) artworks like the world’s largest horse statue, he was constantly inventing, researching, and exploring new avenues to manifest his revolutionary ideas. Da Vinci was as much a scientist as he was an artist. Oftentimes, he would use one to inspire the other. For example, da Vinci meticulously studied human anatomy (to an unnerving degree). Not only did da Vinci improve his artistic depiction of the human body, but he also uncovered critical discoveries about the heart’s function!

Inventions were the primary playground for da Vinci’s interdisciplinary passions. Fascinated by birds and flight, da Vinci took to the skies (on paper). By melding his imagination with his study of birds, bats, and kites, da Vinci’s flying machine (ornithopter) came to life. It was a wooden contraption meant to serve as wings for a single operator. Additionally, da Vinci imagined a 15th century helicopter prototype. The Air Screw would achieve flight by compressing air in the same fashion as modern helicopters. While these inventions never left the page, his ventures still inspire revolutionary engineering efforts today. Da Vinci’s inspiration for invention even crossed the border between sky and sea. Initially intended for sneak attacks, da Vinci designed the first attempt at scuba gear. It was a leather diving suit with two cane tubes attached to the mask that reached the surface.

This fall, Georgia Public Broadcasting is celebrating the genius of Leonardo da Vinci! Across the state, GPB will host several events inspired by da Vinci’s love for art, science, and invention. Visit our Leonardo da Vinci page for news and updates! Finally, keep an eye out for the newest Ken Burns documentary Leonardo da Vinci, premiering November 18-19.