20 Tattoos Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s Best Works

Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 Anchiano, Italy—which today would be close to the city of Florence. He would go on to become one of the greatest artists of the High Renaissance, creating some of the most renowned and celebrated works in all of history. He’s regarded as a polymath (also known as a Renaissance Man,) meaning that he found great success in a variety of distinctive fields—from painting and drawing to science and anatomy. His three most famous works are the “Mona Lisa,” “The Last Supper” and “The Vitruvian Man;” check out some of the most famous tattoo recreations and learn more about these pieces in the gallery below.

“Mona Lisa”

The Mona Lisa was created between 1503 and 1506 and has become the most famous portrait in history. It’s believed, though not confirmed, that this is a painting of Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo. The “Mona Lisa” was acquired by King Francis I of France and has been hanging in the Louvre in Paris since 1797. It’s currently valued at $660 million.

“The Last Supper”

da Vinci created “The Last Supper” in the 1490s and it’s become the most reproduced religious painting of all time. It was commissioned by the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy—where it’s currently displayed to this day. The painting depicts Jesus and his twelve apostles, told in John 13:12. This painting has been severely damaged over the years, from environmental factors and a bombing during WWII, meaning that little of the original painting is still in existence.

“Vitruvian Man”

Created around 1490, the “Vitruvian Man” is da Vinci’s best known ink drawing. It depicts a man, showing precise anatomical proportions and presented the ideal human figure. The drawing was most recently displayed in the Louvre from October 2019 to February 2020, as part of an agreement between France and Italy.