A team of international researchers has confirmed the male bloodline of Leonardo da Vinci by tracing his DNA in living descendants. The discovery marks a breakthrough in a decades-long investigation into the life and legacy of the Renaissance master.
The findings are featured in a newly released book that presents the results of 30 years of genealogical research and lays the groundwork for the ongoing Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project.
The authors documented an extensive Da Vinci family tree that begins in 1331, spanning 21 generations and involving over 400 individuals. Through careful analysis of historical records, they identified 15 living male-line descendants linked to Leonardo’s father and half-brother.
Six of these individuals provided DNA samples. Researchers found matching segments of the Y chromosome—passed down from father to son—confirming the genetic continuity of the Da Vinci male line for at least 15 generations.
The DNA analysis was led by David Caramelli, director of the biology department at the University of Florence, with forensic anthropologist Elena Pilli. Their work is part of the Leonardo DNA Project, a global initiative coordinated from The Rockefeller University in New York.
It’s official. The great artist and polymath of the Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci, has been confirmed to be part of the prolific European R1b lineage
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— ✘ 𝔇𝔢 𝔄𝔠𝔲𝔫𝔞 ✘ (@Brocialismo) May 22, 2025
The project also includes partners such as the J. Craig Venter Institute and is supported by foundations in New York and Washington, D.C.
Researchers are now comparing this modern DNA to remains recovered from a Da Vinci family tomb in Vinci’s Church of Santa Croce. Early tests confirmed the remains belong to a male from the correct time period. Further analysis will determine if the DNA is preserved well enough for comparison.
“Based on the results, we can proceed with analysis of Y chromosome fragments for comparison with current descendants,” Caramelli said.
Beyond genetics, the book reveals new details about Leonardo’s family history. Archival land records uncovered seven Da Vinci homes in Vinci and two properties once owned by Leonardo himself. These estates, inherited from his uncle Francesco, were later disputed by his half-brothers, according to legal documents.
The authors also highlight a charcoal drawing discovered on the fireplace of an old Vinci building, possibly by young Leonardo. Named “Unicorn Dragon,” the image features anatomical details that resemble Leonardo’s later studies. The drawing is now set for scientific analysis and restoration under Italy’s cultural heritage authority.
The book revisits key figures in Leonardo’s early life, including his grandfather Antonio, a merchant who traveled widely, and his mother, Caterina, who may have been a servant or slave in a wealthy Florentine household. Legal records link her to the family of Leonardo’s father, ser Piero.
Leonardo’s writings also suggest he considered how external factors like diet and parental behavior could affect children—ideas that mirror current thinking in epigenetics.
“Leonardo questioned the origins of human life not only biologically: in his studies on generation, conception becomes a complex act where nature, emotion, and fate intertwine—anticipating themes now central to the genetics–epigenetics debate,” said Agnese Sabato.
“This is not just about the author of the world’s most famous painting,” said Jesse H. Ausubel of The Rockefeller University, who directs the DNA project. “It’s a challenge to redefine the limits of historical knowledge and cultural heritage.”
For the small town of Vinci, where Leonardo was born out of wedlock in 1452, the confirmation of his bloodline brings a renewed sense of pride—and a reminder that his story is far from complete.
