Knowing that I would be killed should I stay in Milan, I summoned my assistant and friend Salai and told him that we would flee to Venice that night.
“Shall I inform Luca Pacioli? Given the chance he would accompany us.”
I obliged. Luca was a wonderful mathematician, I would enjoy his company. I packed a horse-drawn cart with my works and then rode to the centre of town where I met Salai and Luca. They bid me greetings and we rode to Venice. When I reached Venice the guards let us in after hearing my name. I was employed as a military engineer devising many ways to keep the city safe from a naval attack. I sketched many naval weapons such as a suit that could dive beneath the waves. I worked this job for the better part of a year; Venice always amazed me. Whoever's idea it was to build the city on water was a genius, the city is a true feat of engineering.
After a year I returned to Florence, a city that had changed very little. I was, with my now numerous companions, well received at the monastery of Santissima Annunziata. I sketched a cartoon of the Virgin Mary that the monks were so delighted with they displayed it publicly. I would enter the service of Cesare Borgia in 1502, who would have me traveling Italy as an engineer and architect with my patron.
I sketched him numerous maps which he used to his advantage. I did not tell him that they were to be used for my project for a canal to supply Florence with water year round. I would leave his services in 1503 and work with other artists in Florence such as Michelangelo. We would work together on two pieces together.
I returned to Milan in 1506 painting something that others tell me is revolutionary, yet is just a picture of a woman smiling. I had many pupils in Milan, all very promising young artists. When the French invaded Milan again in 1515, I was there. King Francis of France took a liking to me, I believed him better than the French I had previously encountered. I have been in his services since then. I have grown to like Francis as a friend, him and his court have been so generous to me. I know I am dying now, it will be this year of 1519 that I pass on. I have had priests come and pray for my forgiveness with me, some of my experiments were not as you would call “morally acceptable.” Now I lie on my death bed with the king beside me and my will on the table to the left. I cannot mention all I have done, my life was like that of ten educated men.
“Shall I inform Luca Pacioli? Given the chance he would accompany us.”
I obliged. Luca was a wonderful mathematician, I would enjoy his company. I packed a horse-drawn cart with my works and then rode to the centre of town where I met Salai and Luca. They bid me greetings and we rode to Venice. When I reached Venice the guards let us in after hearing my name. I was employed as a military engineer devising many ways to keep the city safe from a naval attack. I sketched many naval weapons such as a suit that could dive beneath the waves. I worked this job for the better part of a year; Venice always amazed me. Whoever's idea it was to build the city on water was a genius, the city is a true feat of engineering.
After a year I returned to Florence, a city that had changed very little. I was, with my now numerous companions, well received at the monastery of Santissima Annunziata. I sketched a cartoon of the Virgin Mary that the monks were so delighted with they displayed it publicly. I would enter the service of Cesare Borgia in 1502, who would have me traveling Italy as an engineer and architect with my patron.
I sketched him numerous maps which he used to his advantage. I did not tell him that they were to be used for my project for a canal to supply Florence with water year round. I would leave his services in 1503 and work with other artists in Florence such as Michelangelo. We would work together on two pieces together.
I returned to Milan in 1506 painting something that others tell me is revolutionary, yet is just a picture of a woman smiling. I had many pupils in Milan, all very promising young artists. When the French invaded Milan again in 1515, I was there. King Francis of France took a liking to me, I believed him better than the French I had previously encountered. I have been in his services since then. I have grown to like Francis as a friend, him and his court have been so generous to me. I know I am dying now, it will be this year of 1519 that I pass on. I have had priests come and pray for my forgiveness with me, some of my experiments were not as you would call “morally acceptable.” Now I lie on my death bed with the king beside me and my will on the table to the left. I cannot mention all I have done, my life was like that of ten educated men.