Leonardo da Vinci vs Michelangelo
Who? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Leonardo da Vinci Italy · 1452–1519 64% · #4 in the world
- Michelangelo Italy · 1475–1564 36% · #18 in the world
What the votes say
The world picks Leonardo da Vinci over Michelangelo, 64% to 36%. Leonardo da Vinci is #4 of the 185 thinkers in the world ranking and Michelangelo #18; among the 13 from Italy, they are #1 and #4.
The case for each
Leonardo da Vinci: Painter of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, and the model of the Renaissance man: notebooks full of flying machines, anatomy, rivers and the Vitruvian Man.
Michelangelo: Sculptor of David and the Pietà, painter of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment, and architect of the dome of St Peter's. The two were rivals in Florence, each given a battle scene to paint in the same hall.
Side by side
| Leonardo da Vinci | Michelangelo | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #4 | #18 |
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Lived | 1452–1519 | 1475–1564 |