Notes by Leonardo da Vinci on the flow of water. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), an Italian artist, sculptor, architect and musician, was also famous for his notes on a wide range of problems in medicine, science and engineering. His notes (seen at lower left) were written in a reversed script from right to left, requiring a mirror to read it. The diagrams show swirling geometrical patterns formed by water flowing past a stationary object. His notes compare these patterns with those seen in braided hair.