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Over the course of history, many great individuals have come forth: thinkers, artists, scientists and leaders. Such men have often served as sources of inspiration for me. However, the man that comes to mind when asked to name a historical figure whose inspiration has had a profound effect on me is Leonardo da Vinci.

Although renowned primarily as a painter, Leonardo da Vinci was very much a polymath, being skilled as a scientist, a mathematician, an engineer, an inventor, an anatomist and a writer. His versatility and wide scope of knowledge inspired me to develop the same in within myself. I continue to take a variety of subjects in school, engage myself in various extracurricular activities and work to develop myself personally and academically. The underlying cause of much of the diversity in Leonardo’s work was his natural inquisitiveness. He was keen to investigate the mechanisms of the world around him and design ways to deal with the problems within them. Though I cannot say that his legacy is root of my own curious nature, it certainly acts as a strong motivation in my own search for knowledge in hope of equalling him in magnitude.

Besides the scientific advancements associated with him, his talent as artist must also be taken into account. His skills as an artist are embodied not just in his paintings, but also in the intricacy and accuracy of his anatomical drawings. The information they hold reaffirms the importance of art in any field. So much so, that recently, doctors were able to develop new techniques of correcting faults in the heart valves regulating blood flow based on Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings.

Moreover, the aesthetic beauty in his art cannot be ignored. His paintings have intrigued and inspired an innumerable number of individuals and have certainly played a part in increasing my appreciation for art. I was especially impressed by the application of his study of light in his paintings to...