Different sources and evidence depict Leonardo not only as a masterful artist and an open-minded scientist, but also as a markedly alluring and eloquent conversationalist with an ingratiating, light-hearted character and attractive appearance. He liked to dress elegantly in pink, orange and purple, colours which were actually reserved to the aristocracy. During celebrations Leonardo shone as organizer, musician and orator of self-written satires.
At that time a quite uncommon stance, Leonardo hated killing animals and was a staunch vegetarian. Sometimes he enjoyed himself by freeing the birds from their cages at the market. Being left-handed, he cultivated mirror writing, in which he recorded his horde of notes. This was done to make copying his notes a complicated matter, as copyright was unknown in those days. The same purpose was served by the many intentional mistakes which were hidden in his construction, which were also aimed at hindering others from recreating his works.
From his curriculum vitae and his works, it is apparent that Leonardo was a homosexual. On the basis of an anonymous complaint, he was accused of sodomy (homosexual acts) with 17-year-old model Jacopo Saltarelli. The accusation was later dropped owing to lack of evidence. After the incident, however, the artist kept his private relationships a secret.
In 1490, 10-year-old Gian Giacomo Caprotti di Oreno appeared in Leonardo´s life. The blond, graceful, curly-haired boy was called Salai or Salaino (similar to "Little Devil"). Salai was Leonardo’s model, student and, later, his servant, and, presumably, also his lover for a while. Even though Salai behaved, as Leonardo himself noted, like a "thief, liar and glutton", the relationship lasted three decades.
In 1506, Leonardo became acquainted with 15-year-old Francesco Melzi. The Milanese Count became his student and lover. This artistic and private relationship lasted until Leonardo´s death. Under the guidance of the master, Melzi acquired remarkable skills and fulfilled more and more tasks together with his mentor. In the latter´s last years, when his right hand was paralysed - probably by apoplectic stroke - Melzi painted and drew under the instruction of Leonardo. According to recent studies, Melzi created all or part of many works that had so far been attributed to Leonardo. These could also include ´John the Baptist´.
After Leonardo da Vinc´s death, Francesco Melzi was bequeathed his master´s whole artistic and scientific oeuvre. Later, after Melzi himself died, this heritage was bartered away by his relatives and so most of it has been consequently lost to posterity.
