For his first non-American subject, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns chose Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci.

More than half a millennium after his death, Leonardo da Vinci is still one of the most well-known artists in the world. The rare artist who, when you name some of his most iconic paintings, most people will immediately picture the artwork in their minds: the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, his Vitruvian Man notebook sketches.

Ken Burns is dramatically changing direction with his monumental two-part PBS “Leonardo da Vinci” series: It is the first ever non-American subject he’s tackled.

One of history’s greatest minds gets the documentary treatment from Ken Burns. Here’s what you need to know about the PBS doc.

Ken Burns’ latest documentary is his first one exploring a non-American subject, telling the story of the live and achievements and influence of Leonardo da Vinci.