He designed bridges, submarines, helicopters, bicycles — on paper at least — centuries before they were built. He had an unrivalled understanding of the human body, thanks to spending thousands of hours dissecting corpses. He was a brilliant musician who designed his own instruments, an avid reader, an accomplished astronomer and archaeologist. Oh yes, and he was a rather talented artist. Famously, in an application to the Duke of Milan for a job as an engineer designing bridges, weapons, armoured vehicles and public buildings, it was only in the 11th paragraph that he mentioned his artistic ability. ‘Likewise in painting, I can do everything possible,’ he wrote.