He struggled to hold palettes and paint brushes with his right hand, but he continued to draw and teach with his left hand. He died in 1519 due to an acute cardiovascular event. Italians are set to mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death on Thursday.

Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci? While Leonardo da Vinci is best known as an artist, his work as a scientist and an inventor make him a true Renaissance man. He serves as a role model applying the scientific method to every aspect of life, including art and music.

Before his death, Leonardo wrote his will. Isaacson reports that he divided his property among Francesco, his half-brothers, Battista, Salai, and his cook. (Shortform note: Isaacson states that Leonardo wrote his will in 1518, but most other sources claim he wrote it in 1519, days before his death.)

When Leonardo da Vinci died, he had bank assets in Florence of 400 gold ducats (1.4kg of gold). In addition, there were properties in Milan and Florence that yielded annual rental income. The Duke of Milan had also given him rights to draw water from the St. Christopher canal, which also brought in regular income.