Leonardo Da Vinci's Studies of Embryos Leonardo da Vinci started to discover the anatomy of the human body at the time he was apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio, as da Vinci's teacher insisted that all his pupils learn anatomy. As Leonardo da Vinci became successful as an artist, he was given permission to dissect human corpses at the hospital Santa Maria Nuova in Florence. Later da Vinci dissected in Milano at the hospital Maggiore and in Rome at the hospital Santo Spirito (the first mainland Italian hospital). From 1510 to 1511 Leonardo da Vinci collaborated with the doctor Marcantonio della Torre (1481 to 1511). In 30 years, Leonardo da Vinci dissected 30 male and female corpses of different ages. Together with Marcantonio, da Vinci prepared to publish a theoretical work on anatomy and made more than 200 drawings. However, da Vinci's book was published only in 1580 (long after his death) under the heading Treatise on painting. Leonardo da Vinci Home Page