Leonardo da Vinci (b. 1452, Vinci, d. 1519)

His Years in Milan

Leonardo's study of horses during his time in Milan was induced efforts to design and build a great equestrian statue in memory of Francesco Sforza.

Leonardo went to Milan in 1482, but had already had the to meet the Duke of Milan, called Ludovico the Moor from his dark complexion, in Florence.

Leonardo had probaly already conceived his idea of a colossal monument in memory of Francesco, father of Ludovico.

The statue was to be seven metres high and weigh seventeen-hundred pounds, unrivalled in the world. This monument was never built, though Leonardo created chalk model (which was destroyed eight years later, during the French occupation of Milan).

Such an enormous undertaking was typical of the Renaissance lord's wish for an image of grandeur to be left to posterity. The artist was required to immortalise the glory of the Prince who had ordered the work and wished for his power and magnanimity to be remembered. Leonardo, however, was too eclectic and curious to devote himself to a single project, which was certainly the reason why he abandoned the work after sixteen years of study and experiments.

Once Leonardo had satisfied his curiosity and answered his own questions, he lost interest in the actual execution of a project and preferred to devote himself to new experiences. A French proverb says that Leonardo dreamed of changing the world.

His stay in Milan was, however, fruitful in artistic terms: he painted the of the Rocks, which is now in the Louvre, and the fresco of the Last Supper in the refectory of the Milanese convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

While in Milan, Leonardo also devoted much time to technical and scientific considerations, especially in the field of hydraulics. In particular, he studied the possibility of building a canal to link Milan to the Lake of Como.Leonardo's stay in Milan ended with the occupation of the city by France, an act that effectively ended the balance of power that had brought peace and prosperity to Italy for many years.Leonardo went first to Mantua and Venice. He then returned to Florence and subsequently was employed by Cesare Borgia in Romagna.

[ Leonardo in Florence ]
[ His Roman Sojourn ]
[ Leonardo in France ]
[ Flight and Freedom ]
[ Leonardo the Engineer ]
...[ Leonardo and Warcraft ]
...[ The Art of War ]
...[ Leonardo and Water ]
...[ Entertainments ]
...[ Mechanics ]
[ The Portrait of Mona Lisa ]