Leonardo da Vinci First Works

The first known and dated work of Leonardo da Vinci is a pen-and-ink drawing of the Arnovalley. Leonardo drew it on 5. August 1473.

Leonardo da Vinci, 5th of August 1473

The picture shows this drawing. It shows the ingenious mind of Leonardo, because he drew the landscape in a way that it could be real. Nobody else before did it in this way.

1476 Leonardo and Verrocchio created the painting Baptism of Christ. This painting was an order for Andrea del Verrocchio from the cloister S. Salvi. Leonardo painted the front angel and the landscape. The difference between the two artists is especially visible by the angels.

Baptism of Christ

It is supposed that Leonardo had his own workshop between 1476 and 1478, because he got two orders during this time.

The picture shows a sketch from 1478. You can see a youth, who seem to be related with the Leonardo-angel from the Baptism of Christ. Also visible are some mechanical elements. The conclusion is that Leonardo already made mechanical studies at this early time.