The question of Leonardo da Vinci’s sexuality has fascinated historians and the public for centuries. While concrete proof remains elusive, compelling evidence—from a formal accusation of sodomy to a detailed psychoanalytic study by Sigmund Freud—suggests that the Renaissance genius was homosexual.

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Study of Leonardo

At the beginning of the 20th century, the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, published a monograph on Leonardo’s life, focusing on his libido and alleged homosexuality. Freud’s theory centered on Leonardo’s relationship with his mother—an intense bond in his early years, followed by a long separation.

Freud concluded that Leonardo repressed his profound love for his mother and, in a narcissistic turn, projected that love onto himself. According to this theory, Leonardo then “takes as a model his own person, in whose likeness he chooses his new erotic objects.” In essence, Freud believed Leonardo’s homosexuality was a result of this deep-seated psychological process, using his case as a model to explain others.

The Sodomy Accusation in Florence

Beyond psychoanalytic theory, historical records provide more direct evidence. While studying at the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, a young Leonardo was publicly accused of sodomy in 1476, along with three other men. The accusation involved a well-known male prostitute in Florence.

After two hearings, all the accused were acquitted for lack of evidence. At the time, it was speculated that the anonymous accusation may have been a malicious attack from an enemy. However, the event remains a key piece of evidence for historians studying his life.

The Enigmatic Personality of a Genius

Those who knew Leonardo described him as having a “beautiful appearance, his strong body, his physical grace and his ability to sing with the lyre.” He was known to be a flamboyant figure in Florence, often wearing brightly colored suits or robes that were shorter than was customary.

It is said that it was his custom to buy caged birds simply to set them free.

His personality was full of ambiguities. He was drawn to both beauty and horror, famously sketching the grotesque faces of people he saw on the street. During his groundbreaking anatomical studies, he wrestled with the repulsion of dissecting decaying corpses and the intense scientific curiosity that drove him forward. This duality—a fascination with the very things he feared—defined much of his work.

A Legacy Beyond Personal Life

Of course, Leonardo’s legacy is defined by his boundless genius. He was the first person to perform a complete, layered dissection of a human body, and his anatomical drawings remain prodigies of precision. He studied geometry, botany, and the mechanics of bird flight, leading to his famous designs for flying machines.

His most famous work, the “Mona Lisa,” was his favorite piece, and he traveled with it always. In it, he perfected the “sfumato” technique, which blurs the contours of lines to create an evocative, atmospheric haze—a technique that captures the enigmatic nature of the artist himself.