Leonardo da Vinci is by far one of the most famous artists to ever live. He's one of the best-known people in history. He was also an inventor who changed the world with his creations.

But did you know this: his paintings were all left-handed, he was ambidextrous, and he wrote backward? There's a lot you don't know about this amazing man, and we're going to learn all about it.

Leonardo da Vinci received very little education
Leonardo da Vinci could read and write, but that was about it. By the time he was 15, Leonardo's studies were over. He completely skipped grammar school and all of that to concentrate on things he loved: art, architecture, and music.

Leonardo da Vinci was a great inventor
Leonardo da Vinci is thought to have been the inventor of one of the first helicopters. It was made from wood, too. It seems he was deeply interested in the machine and wanted to make it work, but he never got to do so.

Long before he died, Leonardo da Vinci designed a tank and a submarine that were made from wood. He also designed a flying machine that was twice as large as an airplane. It had two wings and a tail and was powered by an engine made from wood.

Leonardo da Vinci invented the parachute
It's said that Leonardo da Vinci invented the parachute when he was about 23. It was made out of silk and linen and looked a lot like a modern parachute.

Leonardo da Vinci painted all his works left-handed
Leonardo da Vinci wasn't a lefty. He had the opposite problem: he wrote backward. He was all about symmetry, though. He always used his left hand to paint and drew with his right.

Leonardo da Vinci was a musician
It isn't surprising that Leonardo da Vinci would play the flute or a mandolin or the lyre since he loved music so much. But what is surprising is that he designed an instrument called a viola organista.

Leonardo da Vinci couldn't walk and talk at the same time
He wasn't sick. It was just a problem with his mind. Leonardo da Vinci would think so much he couldn't listen to people when he was walking. So when he was walking with someone, they had to stop talking altogether, or Leonardo da Vinci wouldn't be able to concentrate. That's why Leonardo da Vinci walked with someone always on his arm.
Leonardo da Vinci is more popular today than he ever was

Today, Leonardo da Vinci is far more popular than he was when he was alive. He was only known as a painter. Nowadays, he's considered an ambassador of art, and his artistic accomplishments include being the inventor of the bicycle, scuba diving, and the parachute. And he was also a musician and engineer.

So, there you have it: a few interesting facts about Leonardo da Vinci. Always remember him for his famous artists paintings, but now you can add inventor, musician, and all the other things that made him so special. As time goes on, people begin to see that he was one of the most incredible men ever to live.