Breve biografia di Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo often worked slowly and changed his plans many times. He started two paintings, Saint Jerome and The Adoration of the Magi, but did not finish them. His travels, political changes, technical problems, and constant changes to his plans all played a role. His drawings show that he spent a long time looking for the right design. The monks wanted a finished painting, but Leonardo left Florence. During his life, Leonardo started many large projects, but did not finish them.

Around 1482, Leonardo left Florence for Milan. He wrote a letter to Ludovico Sforza, the city’s powerful ruler. In the letter, Leonardo sounded very confident. He described bridges, weapons, walls, and machines he could design. Only near the end did he mention that he could also paint and make statues. This was a clever way to interest a ruler who feared war. Leonardo presented himself as both an artist and an engineer.

At the court in Milan, Leonardo could explore all his interests. Ludovico asked him to paint, design buildings, and prepare grand shows for special events. Leonardo designed costumes, theatre machines, and moving parts for the stage. He could also play music. Guests saw strange lights, turning models of the sky, and figures that seemed to appear by magic. Ropes, wheels, careful measurements, and many hours of work were behind this magic. These events let Leonardo bring art and machines together.

Flying was one of Leonardo’s biggest dreams. He studied birds’ wings and drew their bones, feathers, and movements. Some drawings show a person moving large wings with their arms and legs. Other drawings look a little like a parachute or a modern helicopter. Many of these machines could not fly because human muscles were not strong enough. Still, Leonardo asked simple but sensible questions about air, weight, balance, and movement.

Ludovico also ordered Leonardo to create a huge bronze horse in memory of his father. Leonardo studied real horses for years before making a clay model as large as a real horse. The people of Milan were amazed by the model’s enormous size. However, the bronze for the statue was later used to make cannons because war was approaching. The bronze horse was never made. The clay model was badly damaged after French soldiers arrived in Milan. So another great project was lost.

In Milan, Leonardo also did small, quiet jobs. He painted Cecilia Gallerani, a young woman at Ludovico’s court. Today the painting is called Lady with an Ermine. Cecilia holds a small white animal in her arms. She and the animal turn their heads toward something outside the painting. This movement makes the scene seem alive, like a moment from a story. The painting shows that Leonardo was becoming more interested in bodies, feelings, and movement.

Leonardo’s most important project in Milan began between 1490 and 1500. He was asked to paint The Last Supper on the wall of a monastery dining room. The subject was an important meal in the life of Jesus. Before Leonardo, many artists had painted the same scene, usually showing a quiet row of people at a table. Leonardo chose a much more dramatic moment. Jesus has just said that one of his closest disciples will betray him.