In over five centuries the figure of Leonardo has produced a cultural phenomenon that goes under the name of "Leonardism", a term referring to the use and abuse that has been made of Leonardo and his work by artists and by the mass media. Especially in the last century, Leonardo has not only offered material and inspiration to artistic trends such as the twentieth-century avant-garde movements, but has also nourished a degraded kitsch culture now ranging from manifestations of the most revolutionary creativity to expressions of mass consumerism.

In various countries there exist extraordinary collections dedicated to "Giocondology" and "Giocondoclasty" (phenomena related to the famous Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda) begun by Jean Suyeux and Jean Margat. As regards the Leonardo phenomenon in its broadest sense, the most complete collection is that of the "Leonardism Archives" that since 1972 has collected thousands of images, works of art and "specimens", of every kind and from every age. Since 1993, samples and exemplifications of this vast collection have been exhibited at the Museo Ideale of Vinci and in travelling shows.