In 2019 was het vijfhonderd jaar geleden dat Leonardo da Vinci overleed. Tijd voor een Da Vinci-tour door Milaan, de stad waar Leonardo da Vinci ruim twintig jaar woonde. Inge neemt je mee op pad langs een aantal plekken waar de erfenis van Da Vinci in Milaan te bewonderen is.
De paarden van Da Vinci
Inge: ‘We starten onze tour in het noorden van het centrum, niet ver van het metrostation Porta Garibaldi. Vanaf het metrostation loop je naar de Porta Garibaldi, een van de stadspoorten die tot het begin van de negentiende eeuw toegang gaven tot de stad. Onder deze stadspoort vind je een van de tien paarden die onderdeel uitmaken van Leonardo’s ‘paardenproject’.
In 1482 gaf Ludovico il Moro, de hertog van Milaan, Leonardo da Vinci de opdracht een beeld te ontwerpen ter herinnering aan zijn vader Francesco, tevens de opdrachtgever van de bouw van het Castello Sforzesco. Het moest het grootste standbeeld van een paard ter wereld worden.
Pas vijfhonderd jaar na het vertrek van Da Vinci uit Milaan, is dit project afgerond. Leonardo had veel te hoge ambities en wilde iets realiseren wat zelfs hij niet kon waarmaken: een steigerend bronzen paard van ruim zeven meter hoogte. De aangepaste versie die hij uiteindelijk schetste, werd echter nooit gerealiseerd. De Sforza’s verloren hun macht en Da Vinci vertrok naar Amboise in Frankrijk, waar hij in 1519 stierf.
Het duurde vervolgens nog tot 1999 voordat de definitieve versie van het door Da Vinci verbeelde paard werd onthuld. Het werd gerealiseerd door de Amerikaanse kunstenares Nina Akamu en gefinancierd door de stichting Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse Foundation. Het is te bezichtigen voor de ingang van het Ippodromo, de paardenrenbaan ten westen van het centrum.
Om de sterfdag van Leonardo te vieren, is aan tien nationale en internationale kunstenaars en ontwerpers gevraagd een kleine versie van het paard van Leonardo te interpreteren.
Deze beelden staan op openbare plekken verspreid door de stad, zoals onder de Porta Garibaldi maar ook bij de Sant’Ambrogio, in de Galleria del Corso, op de binnenplaats van de prachtige Università Statale en onder de poort op Piazza IVX Maggio, niet ver van de Navigli. Voor meer informatie over het project, download je de app Leonardo’s Horse Project.
De waterwegen van de Navigli
Op vijf minuten lopen van Porta Garibaldi vind je de Conca dell’Incoronata. Een onbekende plek in de stad die zelfs vele Milanesi niet weten te vinden. Hier stroomde tot het begin van de vorige eeuw de Naviglio Martesana onder de Spaanse muren door de stad binnen. Het kanaal was een belangrijke bron van inkomsten voor de stad, omdat vervoer via boten de meest efficiënte manier was om goederen de verplaatsen en zo geld te verdienen met de handel hierin.
De Naviglio Martesana is het langste kanaal van Milaan en werd in 1497 onder toeziend oog van hertog Ludovico il Moro in verbinding gesteld met de fossato interno, het kanaal dat rondom het stadscentrum van Milaan stroomde en dat de Martesana zo verbond met het Naviglio Grande, ten zuiden van Milaan. Het was Leonardo die hielp met het ontwerpen van deze verbinding, waarin een hoogteverschil van tien meter overbrugd moest worden.
Het resultaat is het systeem van de sluizen, die tegenwoordig overal ter wereld gebruikt worden om hoogteverschillen in waterwegen te overbruggen. In 1967 zijn deze sluizen tot monument benoemd, zo’n dertig jaar later zijn de deuren grondig gerenoveerd. Het is nu nog een van de weinige plekken in Milaan waar je de aanwezigheid van het water dat ooit door de stad stroomde kunt herkennen.
Leonardo’s standbeeld op het Piazza della Scala
We lopen door de gezellige wijk Brera naar het Piazza della Scala. Het duurde maar liefst veertien jaar voordat het beeld van Da Vinci dat op dit plein staat werd onthuld.
Het werd ontworpen door de beeldende kunstenaar Pietro Magni. Nadat hij in 1858 een ontwerpwedstrijd won, brak een onrustige periode in Italië aan, die uiteindelijk werd afgesloten met de eenwording van het land. Pas in 1872 kreeg het beeld van Da Vinci (én van zijn vier belangrijkste leerlingen) zijn huidige plek in het midden van het Piazza della Scala.
De Milanesi noemen het beeld ook wel On liter in quatter, dialect voor ‘een liter met zijn vieren’. Men zegt dat Leonardo de wijnfles voorstelt en zijn vier leerlingen de glazen. Elk heeft iets van de talenten van Da Vinci overgenomen, maar in geen van de leerlingen zijn alle talenten verenigd zoals bij Da Vinci het geval was…
De Codice Atlantico in de Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Op nog geen vijf minuten lopen van het Piazza della Scala en de Duomo van Milaan ligt de Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, met de gelijknamige bibliotheek. Beide culturele instellingen openden hun deuren op initiatief van aartsbisschop Federico Borromeo, die een instituut wilde creëren waar artistieke en intellectuele talenten gratis zouden kunnen studeren.
Tegenwoordig is het complex een museum en kun je hier prachtige schilderijen van wereldberoemde schilders bewonderen. In de Pinacoteca Ambrosiana hangen werken van onder anderen Bruegel en Caravaggio.
Maar dat is niet alles. De belangrijkste collectie van de Biblioteca Ambrosiana is de Codice Atlantico, het schetsboek waarin Da Vinci al zijn gedachten op papier zette. De boeken hebben de tand der tijd helaas niet allemaal doorstaan en de overgebleven boeken zijn verspreid over de wereld. Maar de Biblioteca Ambrosiana heeft een van de grootste collecties. Een aantal pagina’s daarvan wordt tot eind 2019 tentoongesteld in de Sala Federiciana.
De Sala delle Asse in het Castello Sforzesco
We lopen nog een kleine tien minuten verder, naar de Torre Filarete, de hoofdingang van het Castello Sforzesco. Helemaal achter in het kasteel vind je de toegang naar het museum waarin zich de Sala delle Asse bevindt.
Deze zaal ligt in het gedeelte waar de hertogen van Milaan met hun familie woonden. Ooit schijnt deze zaal bekleed te zijn geweest met houten planken, oftewel asse. Vandaar de naam. In 1498 kreeg Da Vinci de opdracht om deze zaal te beschilderen. Hij besloot om de ruimte om te toveren tot een grote pergola, omgeven door zestien moerbeibomen.
De keuze voor deze bomen is niet toevallig. Ludovico il Moro, Da Vinci’s opdrachtgever, had namelijk alle boeren in het Milanese hertogdom verplicht deze bomen te planten en daarmee de zijde-industrie te laten opbloeien.
Met het vertrek van Il Moro uit Milaan verdwenen ook de decoraties van Da Vinci uit de Sala delle Asse. De verschillende buitenlandse overheersers die Il Moro opvolgden, hadden minder oog voor het werk en in de loop der eeuwen kreeg de ruimte andere functies en werd het werk van Leonardo overgeschilderd. Pas aan het einde van de negentiende eeuw ‘ontdekte’ de Duitse wetenschapper Paul Mueller Da Vinci’s werk.
In 2013 startte men met een serieuze restauratie van de zaal. De beschilderde oppervlaktes zijn schoongemaakt en beschermd tegen verdere achteruitgang. Waar mogelijk zijn de originele decoraties weer zichtbaar gemaakt.
Ter gelegenheid van de vijfhonderdste sterfdag van Leonardo da Vinci is er tot begin 2020 een speciale tentoonstelling in de Sala delle Asse. Met behulp van videoprojecties wordt de geschiedenis van de zaal uitgelegd en zichtbaar gemaakt. Het is een leuke manier, ook voor kinderen, om te begrijpen hoe de zaal er in de loop der eeuwen uit heeft gezien en om van dichtbij het werk van Da Vinci te bewonderen.
Het Laatste Avondmaal
In deze rij ontbreekt natuurlijk Da Vinci’s Laatste Avondmaal. Mocht je dit wereldberoemde werk willen bezoeken, zorg dan dat je op tijd kaartjes reserveert. Je kunt er helaas niet zo maar binnenlopen tijdens een stadswandeling, want de tickets zijn vaak maanden van te voren al uitverkocht. Sla dan ook Da Vinci’s wijngaard in hartje stad niet over!
Da Vinci’s uitvindingen in het Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica
Vlak bij het Laatste Avondmaal ligt het Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica, waar je onder andere veel van Da Vinci’s uitvindingen terug vindt. In de zogenaamde Leonardo Galerij zijn grote houten machines en instrumenten te zien, die precies zijn nagebouwd zoals Da Vinci ze heeft ontworpen.
Wapens, vliegtuigen, bruggen, verdedigingswerken en een maquette van een ideale stad – zijn ontwerpen weerspiegelen zijn veelzijdigheid. Sommige nagebouwde modellen werken zelfs nagenoeg perfect. Nog een aanrader: Leonardo3 – de wereld van Leonardo da Vinci, zeker met kinderen de moeite van een bezoek waard.’
Treed in de voetsporen van Da Vinci
Wil je deze of een andere stadswandeling maken, vergezeld door een Nederlandstalige gids die je meer vertelt over de geschiedenis en huidige ontwikkelingen van de stad? Inge laat je graag de aanwezigheid van Da Vinci in Milaan met eigen ogen bekijken. Via deze link vind je alle opties en kun je contact opnemen met Inge.
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FAQs
What did Leonardo da Vinci do in Milan? ›
An artist and an engineer, during his time in Milan Leonardo found fertile ground for his dual genius: in fact, not only did he study the Navigli – the sophisticated system of navigable canals to ferry people and merchandise to Milan, to irrigate the fields and to defend the city – that made Milan a real “city of water ...
What did Leonardo design when he was in Milan? ›Leonardo worked in Milan from 1482 until 1499. He was commissioned to paint the Virgin of the Rocks for the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception and The Last Supper for the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Where did Leonardo da Vinci work in Milan? ›Castle Sforza, Milan, Italy
In 1482, Leonardo moved to Milan to be a court painter for the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. He lived in the enormous Sforza Castle during his 16 year stay here.
In the early 1480s, many years before he painted the world-famous pieces for which he is now best known—the Mona Lisa being just one—Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci sought a job at the court of Ludovico Sforza, the then de facto ruler of Milan.
Why is Leonardo da Vinci important to Italy? ›Painter, writer, inventor, sculptor, musician – Leonardo da Vinci was one of Italy's original Renaissance men. In fact, the idea of the “Renaissance man” was developed during the very time in which he lived.
What is one accomplishment Da Vinci executed in Milan? ›'The Last Supper'
The first is da Vinci's “The Last Supper,” painted during his time in Milan, from about 1495 to 1498. A tempera and oil mural on plaster, “The Last Supper” was created for the refectory of the city's Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The Last Supper (ca.
Leonardo's Last Supper, on the end wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, is one of the most renowned paintings of the High Renaissance.
- He didn't go to school. ...
- He liked to dissect corpses. ...
- His masterpiece was destroyed. ...
- He wrote in reverse. ...
- Bill Gates bought Leonardo da Vinci's notebook.
Many people think that Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, as the name seems to suggest. But the truth is that the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci is in Anchiano, at about 3 kilometres from Vinci. Leonardo was born there on April 15, 1452, along a country road, where he could see the surrounding green hills.
What painting did Leonardo da Vinci paint in Milan? ›Last Supper, Italian Cenacolo, one of the most famous artworks in the world, painted by Leonardo da Vinci probably between 1495 and 1498 for the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
Is Leonardo da Vinci famous in Italy? ›
Painter, scientist, architect, and Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci left his mark all over Italy in frescoes, buildings, drawings, and even prototypes and blueprints for many of the world's technological milestones.
Why did Da Vinci leave Italy? ›Answer and Explanation: Leonardo da Vinci left Milan in 1499 as the city was invaded by France during the Second Italian War. Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan and Leonardo's patron, feared aggression from the Kingdom of Naples and looked to France and Spain for support.
Where is The Last Supper in Milan? ›One of the world's most famous and fascinating paintings - much analysed, admired and often the subject of books and films - Leonardo da Vinci's Cenacolo (The Last Supper) is located in Milano, in the refectory of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It is one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites.
What are the two most famous works of Leonardo da Vinci? ›Two of his works, the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper occupy unique positions as the most famous, most reproduced and most parodied portrait and religious painting of all time, their fame approached only by Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. Leonardo's drawing of the Vitruvian Man is also iconic.
Why was Da Vinci so smart? ›However, it appears that da Vinci's genius came more from experience than pure good fortune or genetics. He was driven to practice his various interests through his unrelenting curiosity.
Why did Leonardo da Vinci go to Milan? ›But his primary motivation for moving was probably the opportunity to work for Milan's ruler, Ludovico Sforza: Milan held a highly strategic position in southwestern Europe, and was often a point of military contention; in a letter Leonardo wrote to Sforza before coming to the city, he offers his services as a military ...
How long did da Vinci stay in Milan? ›He spent 17 years in Milan, leaving only after Duke Ludovico Sforza's fall from power in 1499. It was during these years that Leonardo reached new heights of scientific and artistic achievement.
How old was Leonardo da Vinci when he moved to Milan? ›In 1482 Leonardo moved to Milan to work in the service of the city's duke—a surprising step when one realizes that the 30-year-old artist had just received his first substantial commissions from his native city of Florence: the unfinished panel painting Adoration of the Magi for the monastery of San Donato a Scopeto ...
What was da Vinci's biggest achievement? ›1452 - 1519
Considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time, his Mona Lisa and The Last Supper are among the most famous paintings ever created.
The Last Supper was painted between 1495 and 1498 as part of a commission to renovate the church and its buildings for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. The mural depicts the scene of the supper at which Christ reveals to his disciples that one of them would betray him.
How many da Vinci paintings exist? ›
Leonardo da Vinci's total output in painting is really rather small; there are less than 20 surviving paintings that can be definitely attributed to him, and several of them are unfinished. Two of his most important works—the Battle of Anghiari and the Leda, neither of them completed—have survived only in copies.
Who owns the Mona Lisa? ›It was acquired by King Francis I of France and is now the property of the French Republic. It has been on permanent display at the Louvre in Paris since 1797.
What was Leonardo da Vinci's IQ? ›Da Vinci, famed painter and theorist, is estimated to have had IQ scores ranging from 180 to 220, according to parade.com.
What masterpiece of da Vinci was destroyed? ›"Leonardo's painting of the Salvator Mundi was long known to have existed, but was presumed to have been destroyed.
What is the most famous thing Leonardo da Vinci invented? ›One of his most famous inventions, the flying machine (also known as the "ornithopter") is clearly inspired by the flight of winged animals, which da Vinci hoped to replicate.
What made Leonardo da Vinci a genius? ›Being curious about everything and curious just for curiosity's sake, not simply because it's useful, is the defining trait of Leonardo. It's how he pushed himself and taught himself to be a genius. We'll never emulate Einstein's mathematical ability. But we can all try to learn from, and copy, Leonardo's curiosity.
What are 7 facts about Leonardo da Vinci? ›- The Da Vinci Surname Relates to the Place Leonardo was Born. ...
- He was an Illegitimate Child. ...
- His Skills were Honed While Doing an Apprenticeship. ...
- He Had a Unique Writing Skill. ...
- He Only Created One Self Portrait. ...
- One of his Notebooks Sold for $40 Million.
| Born | April 15, 1452 • Italy |
|---|---|
| Notable Works | “Battle of Anghiari” • “Last Supper” • “Leda” • “Mona Lisa” • “Portrait of Ginevra de' Benci” • “St. Jerome” • “The Benois Madonna” • “The Virgin of the Rocks” • “Treatise on Painting” • “Virgin and Child with St. Anne” |
| Movement / Style | Early Renaissance • Renaissance |
In the gardens of the Château d'Amboise overlooking the Loire, a small, intricate chapel houses the tomb of the “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo da Vinci. In Leonardo's final years, the Italian painter, inventor, intellectual and all-around genius spent his time working for the French rulers controlling Milan.
What Italian city is home to Da Vinci's The Last Supper? ›The Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci is undoubtedly one of the most interesting attractions in the city of Milan.
What was Leonardo's first painting? ›
This is the very first painting that Leonardo da Vinci ever made, at least among those that have survived to the present day. And without considering drawings and sketches. It is the Baptism of Christ, made with oil and tempera on wooden panel.
What is the most famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci Why? ›The Last Supper, 1498
Known to be Leonardo da Vinci's most famous painting, this work was estimated to have started between 1495 and 1496. It took Leonardo da Vinci about 2 years to be content with his work.
At the end of the fifteenth century, the Dominicans were lucky enough to have two of the greatest artist of the time decorate their temple thanks to Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Sforza was Leonardo's patron and he wanted to convert the convent into a mausoleum for his family, thus commissioning The Last Supper.
Who paid Leonardo da Vinci Last Supper? ›Leonardo's Last Supper (ca. 1495-98) in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, was commissioned by his patrons Duke Ludovico Sforza and Beatrice d'Este. The painting represents a scene from the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verse 21, when Jesus announces that one of his Twelve Apostles will betray him.
Where is most of Da Vinci art? ›While the majority of his masterpieces are found in cities in Italy, such as Florence and Milan, there are other pieces in surprising locations across the globe.
Does the Da Vinci family still exist? ›Da Vinci's descendants still live in the Tuscan region of his birth and include farmers, office workers, an upholsterer and an artist. While the family name was originally rooted in its place of origin, the "da" was discarded over time.
Why does France have the Mona Lisa instead of Italy? ›The Mona Lisa was presumed lost for some years until in 1913, Peruggia was discovered and arrested after attempting to sell it to a gallery in Florence for the equivalent of $100,000. When the arrest was made, the Italian state returned the painting to France, and it has been housed by the Louvre ever since.
Why was Leonardo da Vinci in France when he died? ›France's 16th century King Francis I invited Leonardo to France to help imagine and build a new French capital at Amboise in the Loire Valley.
Who is the woman in the Last Supper? ›At the heart of the controversy is the idea that Mary Magdalene's connection to Jesus was spiritual rather than romantic. For example, in the film's version of the Last Supper, Mary Magdalene is seated on Jesus' right-hand side.
Is it free to see the Last Supper in Milan? ›You can get Last Supper tickets on the museum's official site, Cenacolo Vinciano. A range of policies makes ticket prices affordable for just about everyone, but the standard ticket costs €15 per person. Processing your ticket is mandatory at least 30 minutes before entry.
Can you visit the Last Supper? ›
So you're heading to Milan and you know you have to stop to see the Last Supper painting by Leonardo da Vinci. What you might not know is that tickets to see the Last Supper have to be reserved in advance, and that the famous mural is tucked away in a church you might walk right past.
What are 2 things Leonardo da Vinci invented? ›Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most prolific inventors in history. He spent hours and hours concocting inventions and innovations across a variety of fields including flight, warfare and public water systems. Some of his most renown inventions are the flying machine, the parachute and the revolving bridge.
What two things did Leonardo da Vinci invent? ›As an engineer, Leonardo conceived ideas vastly ahead of his own time, conceptually inventing the parachute, the helicopter, an armored fighting vehicle, the use of concentrated solar power, the car and a gun , a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics and the double hull.
Did Leonardo da Vinci have any famous quotes? ›1. "Learning never exhausts the mind." 2. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
Why did Leonardo flee Milan? ›Answer and Explanation: Leonardo da Vinci left Milan in 1499 as the city was invaded by France during the Second Italian War. Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan and Leonardo's patron, feared aggression from the Kingdom of Naples and looked to France and Spain for support.
When did Leonardo live in Milan? ›In 1482 Leonardo moved to Milan to work in the service of the city's duke—a surprising step when one realizes that the 30-year-old artist had just received his first substantial commissions from his native city of Florence: the unfinished panel painting Adoration of the Magi for the monastery of San Donato a Scopeto ...
Where is Leonardo's Last Supper? ›One of the world's most famous and fascinating paintings - much analysed, admired and often the subject of books and films - Leonardo da Vinci's Cenacolo (The Last Supper) is located in Milano, in the refectory of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
What are 3 things Leonardo da Vinci was famous for? ›Leonardo Da Vinci is probably best known as the famous artist who painted the 'Mona Lisa', which has hung in the Louvre gallery in Paris for over 200 years. However he wasn't just a great painter. Da Vinci was also a sculptor, an architect, a poet, a composer, a scientist, a mathematician and an inventor.
How long did Da Vinci stay in Milan? ›He spent 17 years in Milan, leaving only after Duke Ludovico Sforza's fall from power in 1499. It was during these years that Leonardo reached new heights of scientific and artistic achievement.
What is the story behind the lost Leonardo? ›The Lost Leonardo is an internationally co-produced documentary film directed by Andreas Koefoed, released in 2021. It follows the discovery and successive sales of the painting the Salvator Mundi, allegedly a work by Leonardo da Vinci, an artist for whom there are only a few attributed works in existence.
Who found the lost Leonardo? ›
"Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi," which was discovered by American art dealer Alexander Parish at an estate sale in the mid-2000s, was sold to an unidentified collector for between $75 milllion and $80 million in May 2013.
What is the most famous thing that Leonardo da Vinci painted? ›Mona Lisa (c. 1503–19)
The world's most famous artwork, the Mona Lisa draws thousands of visitors to the Louvre Museum each day, many of whom are compelled by the sitter's mysterious gaze and enigmatic smile.
Leonardo da Vinci's total output in painting is really rather small; there are less than 20 surviving paintings that can be definitely attributed to him, and several of them are unfinished. Two of his most important works—the Battle of Anghiari and the Leda, neither of them completed—have survived only in copies.