Was Leonardo da Vinci a vegetarian? Examining the Historical Evidence

December 29, 2025 •

4 min read

Accounts from contemporaries and his own notes suggest Leonardo da Vinci had a profound empathy for animals, leading to the long-standing question: was Leonardo da Vinci a vegetarian?. The records indicate a man with deep-seated ethical concerns regarding animal exploitation, placing him far ahead of his time.

Quick Summary

The question of Leonardo da Vinci's vegetarianism is complex, supported by compelling circumstantial evidence from his writings and contemporaries, but lacking a single definitive statement.

Key Points

Deep Compassion: Multiple historical accounts confirm Leonardo's profound empathy for animals, including his notable habit of buying and freeing caged birds.
Philosophical Writings: His notebooks contain numerous passages and parables that condemn the practice of killing and eating animals, viewing humans as a 'tomb for animals.'
Contemporary Testimony: Explorer Andrea Corsali explicitly likened Leonardo's meatless diet to that of vegetarian Indian communities in a letter to their mutual patron.
Misattributed Quote: The famous 'king of beasts' quote is fictional, originating from a historical novel, but its content reflects da Vinci's genuine anti-slaughter sentiments.
Inconclusive Evidence: While the ethical case is strong, no definitive statement from da Vinci confirms lifelong vegetarianism, and some records of household expenses include meat or fish.
Complex Ethics: His compassionate views on animals stand in contrast to his work as a military engineer, revealing the complex and sometimes contradictory nature of his genius.

Unveiling Leonardo's Dietary Habits: The Case for Vegetarianism

For centuries, the dietary habits of the Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci have been a subject of intrigue and debate. While not a central part of his colossal legacy, his reported compassion for animals has led many to speculate that he was a vegetarian, a rare practice in 15th and 16th-century Italy. The investigation relies heavily on second-hand accounts and interpretations of his philosophical writings, but provides compelling evidence for his meatless diet.

Contemporary Accounts of His Compassion

Several observers from Leonardo's era commented on his unusual behavior and deep empathy for animals, providing some of the earliest arguments for his vegetarianism.

Andrea Corsali's Letter: Italian explorer Andrea Corsali mentioned a community of vegetarians in India and remarked, "do not feed upon anything which has blood, nor will they allow anyone to hurt any living thing, like our Leonardo da Vinci". This comparison is a significant piece of evidence suggesting his meat-free diet was known among his circle.
Giorgio Vasari's Writings: Biographer Giorgio Vasari famously wrote that Leonardo would buy caged birds at markets, just to set them free. This act was seen as a testament to his profound respect for life and liberty, aligning with the ethical principles of vegetarianism.

Philosophical Notes from the Notebooks

Within his thousands of pages of his notebooks, Leonardo left behind philosophical musings and prophecies that suggest a strong aversion to the slaughter and consumption of animals.

Critique of Humanity: Leonardo critiques humankind's role, stating, "If you are as you have described yourself the king of the animals –– it would be better for you to call yourself king of the beasts since you are the greatest of them all!". He also lamented how the human stomach has become a "sepulcher for all animals".
Prophecies of Animal Suffering: His codices contain cryptic prophecies describing the horrors of animal exploitation, widely interpreted as a condemnation of slaughterhouses.
Defense of Plant Sensibility: He argued that plants, unlike animals, lack the power of movement and therefore do not feel pain in the same way.

The Misattributed Quote and the Ambiguity

The debate is complicated by ambiguities and a famous misattributed quote.

The Fictional 'King of Beasts' Quote

A widely circulated quote often used to prove Leonardo's vegetarianism—"I have since an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men"—is a fabrication from Dmitry Sergeyevich Merezhkovsky's 1901 novel The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci. While the sentiment aligns with Leonardo's documented views, the words are not his own.

Interpreting Inconsistent Records

The most direct contradiction comes from Leonardo's own household records, which occasionally include purchases of meat or fish. Historians propose these were for his numerous apprentices, servants, and guests. Some shopping lists mention fish but no meat, suggesting he may have been pescetarian at times. A final complexity is his work as a military engineer, which seems to clash with his compassionate philosophy.

The Verdict: Strong Probability, Not Absolute Certainty

Though a definitive statement is missing, the balance of evidence strongly favors the conclusion that Leonardo da Vinci maintained a predominantly, if not entirely, vegetarian diet, especially later in life. His compassionate actions, condemning writings, and the testimony of his contemporaries suggest a man who found eating meat ethically abhorrent.


Source Type	Supporting Vegetarianism	Contradicting/Ambiguous
Personal Writings	Contains strong ethical condemnation of animal slaughter; philosophical objections to meat-eating.	No direct statement of being a lifelong vegetarian. Philosophical notes are open to interpretation.
Contemporary Reports	Andrea Corsali explicitly compares him to meat-abstaining Indian Guzzarati. Giorgio Vasari notes his habit of freeing caged birds.	Relies on hearsay and third-party accounts; not a personal confession. Corsali and da Vinci were not close friends.
Household Records	Shopping lists often feature vegetables, fruits, and dairy; one list specifically mentions fish but no meat.	Expense records show purchases of meat and fish, possibly for his entire household.
Misattributed Quotes	Fictional quote by Merezhkovsky, though not authentic, reflects the sentiment of his known writings.	The falseness of the quote highlights the lack of direct confession.

In conclusion, while we can't definitively declare, "Yes, he was a vegetarian," the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that his diet was largely, if not entirely, meat-free. His ethical stance on animal welfare was a hallmark of his unique genius. The debate continues to fascinate, revealing not just what da Vinci ate, but the depth of his philosophy and empathy.

For a deeper dive into his philosophical views on animal life, read this article by The Guardian on Leonardo da Vinci's animal rights advocacy: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2011/nov/30/leonardo-da-vinci-animal-rights-activist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Evidence includes his notebooks containing scathing critiques of animal cruelty, the testimony of his contemporaries like Giorgio Vasari and Andrea Corsali, and accounts of him buying caged birds to set them free.

No, there is no known record of a direct statement from Leonardo da Vinci confirming his vegetarianism. The evidence is compellingly circumstantial, based on his actions and writings.

No, the famous quote is not authentic. It was written for a 1901 historical novel by Dmitry Merezhkovsky. Although not his words, the sentiment expressed aligns with da Vinci's known ethical opposition to animal slaughter.

It is not possible to claim Leonardo was a vegan. The term wasn't coined until the 20th century, and historical records show he consumed dairy products like cheese and eggs. A reference to 'simple foods' likely includes these items.

Conflicting evidence arises from different sources. Contemporary accounts and his ethical writings point towards vegetarianism, but household expense lists sometimes include meat or fish, which could have been purchased for his apprentices or other members of his household.

This is one of the more puzzling contradictions of his life. While he wrote about the sanctity of animal life, he also designed formidable weapons of war. Historians note this contrast as a complex aspect of his character.

Beyond his meatless diet, da Vinci's notebooks suggest a focus on simple, well-cooked, plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. He also reportedly enjoyed soups and cheeses.

Vegetarianism was an extremely rare practice during the Renaissance. It was a time when meat consumption was often a symbol of wealth and status. Leonardo's potential vegetarianism was highly unusual and ahead of his time.