Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. His full birth name was Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci. The meaning of Leonardo's birth name is Leonardo, son of (Mes)ser Piero da Vinci. He was born to Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, a Florentine notary, and Caterina, a peasant. Leonardo was an illegitimate son because his parents were never married. Leonardo was raised by his father. In 1466, when he was only 14 years old, he became the apprentice of one of the most famous artists of his time, Andrea di Cione. Andrea di Cione is also known as Verrocchio. During his apprenticeship with the artist Verrocchio, he acquired technical skills. Technical skills include drawing, chemistry, metallurgy, metalworking, plaster casting, leatherworking, mechanics and carpentry. He also learns artistic skills which include painting, drawing, sculpting and modeling. Leonardo collaborated with Verrocchio on the Baptism of Christ, which is a painting depicting a young angel holding Jesus' robe in a material superior to that of his master which caused Verrocchio to put down his brush and never paint again. In 1472, at the age of twenty, he was qualified as a master artist of the Guild of Saint Luke. His first known work is a pen and ink drawing of the Arno valley. According to Florentine court records, Leonardo was accused of sodomy, but was acquitted. In 1478, Leonardo opened his own workshop. In 1481 he received a large commission for the altar of a monastery near Florence. The play was called The Adoration of the Magi and it was never finished. The Adoration of the Magi depicts three wise men paying homage to a newborn Jesus and his mother, Mary. In 1482, he abandoned the project, so he was able to access...... middle of paper .......p., nd Web. November 10, 2013. • “Michelangelo Buonarroti”. Michelangelo Buonarroti. Np, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Michelangelo Buonarroti.” Biography of Michelangelo. Np, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Michelangelo”. How things work. Np, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Michelangelo”. Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Michelangelo”. Online biography. Np, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Raphaël”. Biography of Raphael. Np, and Web. November 10, 2013 • “Biography of Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520) – Life of a Renaissance artist”. Comments by Raphael Sanzio totally historical. Np, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Raphaël”. Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Raphaël”. Online biography. Np, and Web. November 10, 2013. • “Biography of Raphaël”. Biography of Raphael. NP, 2002. Web. November 10. 2013