Life of Leonardo

Leonardo and patron

For Leonardo, the first period in Milan was an important period that would determine the rest of his life.

Leonardo's role at the Milanese court was truly diverse, and he was active in a variety of fields, including painting, architecture, sculpture, diplomacy, and preparing for festivals. It didn't seem like a stable situation at all, as he was forced into a situation where he had to plead with Ludovico. It seems that he probably received a certain amount of stipend, but the court was not able to deal with extraordinary expenses or other necessary expenses.

However, perhaps the lifestyle where a certain level of living was guaranteed suited Leonardo's personality, and even after Ludovico's downfall, Leonardo no longer tried to make a living purely as a painter. It was probably during his time in Milan that he realized the inefficiency of making a living by exchanging paintings for money. For Leonardo, the Mona Lisa was like a business card that showed his skill as a painter, and was nothing more than a tool to find new patrons.

In this way, Leonardo's main concern in life was how to find a patron that was convenient for him, and he did not place the pursuit of art itself at the center of his life.

1452		He was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, a town near Florence in Tuscany, as the illegitimate son of Ser Piero da Vinci, a Florentine notary. At the time, the family lived in Vinci.
1457	5	Lives at Vinci's father's house.
1466	14	Became an apprentice at Verrocchio's workshop in Florence. At the time, Botticelli, Perugino, and Lorenzo di Credi were in the workshop.
1471	19	Verrocchio installs a sphere and a cross at the top of Florence Cathedral. Leonardo is also involved in this.
1472	20	Leonardo registers with the San Luca Painters' Guild in Florence. The Monastery of San Salvi in Florence commissioned Verrocchio's workshop to perform the baptism of Christ. Leonardo painted part of this picture.
1473	21	Drawing of the Arno Valley, dated August 5, 1473
1475	23	Annunciation Virgin of carnations
1476	24	Everyone at Verrocchio's workshop, including Leonardo, is accused of homosexuality. (Sarletalli case) All were acquitted.
1478	26	Leonardo leaves Verrocchio's workshop. Received a commission for an altarpiece for the chapel in Palazzo Vecchio. There is a description that ``In 1478, he began painting two paintings of the Madonna and Child.''
1479	27	Leonardo depicts the hanging of Bernardo Bandini Balconcelli, who was executed as a traitor.
1481	29	Commissioned by the Monastery of San Donato a Scobeto to produce the Adoration of the Three Wise Kings. Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, works in the Sistine Chapel. Verrocchio sends a full-size prototype equestrian statue to the Venetian government.
1482	30	Leonardo goes to Milan, leaving the Adoration of the Three Wise Kings unfinished. He stayed in Milan until 1499.
1483	31	April 25th, The Covenant of Our Lady of the Rocks. Verrocchio is commissioned by the Venetian government to create an equestrian statue.
1484	32	First drawing for the equestrian statue of Francesco Sforza for Ludovico il Moro.
1485	33	Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani begins. Leonardo visits Hungary on behalf of Ludovico and meets Matthias Corvinus. Request for “The Birth of Christ”.
1486	34	Verrocchio died in Venice.
1487	35	Design of the dome of Milan Cathedral (1487-88)
1490	38	Gian Giacomo Caprotti, also known as Sarai, comes to Leonardo. Portrait of Cecilia Gallellani completed. Resumption of horses.
1491	39	Prepare the festivities for Ludovico il Moro's wedding. Preparation for horse casting.
1492	40	Completed clay model of a horse.
1493	41	Description of "Katerina is coming".
1495	43	Start of the Last Supper (1495~1497) There is a description of Katerina's death and her funeral expenses.
1497	45	The Last Supper is complete. Start during assessment.
1499	47	Completed during assembly. Leonardo leaves Milan. Hired by the Venetian government as an architect and military engineer.
1500	48	Portrait of Isabella d'Este Leonardo returns to Florence.
1501	49	Carton production of Saint Anne, Virgin and Child, and John the Baptist.
1502	50	Leonardo is hired by Cesare Borgia as an architect and military engineer. Travels around Italy with Cesare. Imola map Leda and the Swan
1503	51	Cesare's downfall. Leonardo returns to Florence. The Battle of Anghiari begins.
1504	52	Mona Lisa Father Cell Pierrot dies. Asked for opinions on the installation of Michelangelo's David statue. Request for "Young Christ" from Isabella.
1505	53	Receive payment for the Battle of Anghiari. Michelangelo's sketch of the Battle of Cassina.
1506	54	Leonardo returns to Milan.
1507	55	Stays in Milan and Florence, where he meets Francesco Melzi. Death of Cesare Borgia Serves Louis XII.
1508	56	Leonardo returns to Milan. Purchased a house in Porta Orientale in the parish of Santa Babila.
1509	57
1510	58	Saint Anne and Virgin and Child Designed the choir stalls of Milan Cathedral
1511	59	Anatomy study Vasari is born.
1512	60	Massimiliano Sforza becomes Duke of Milan. Michelangelo completes Sistine ceiling painting
1513	61	After the death of Julius II, he was summoned by Pope Leo X and spent time at the Belvedere Palace in the Vatican. john the baptist
1514	62
1515	63	Massimiliano Sforza Death of Louis XII. A statue of a walking lion is unveiled to Francis I.
1516	64	He was invited to Amboise by King François I and given the residence of Crewe.
1517	65
1518	66
1519	67	Leonardo died on May 2nd. Buried in Amboise.