Leonardo da Vinci at the Milanese Court
Leonardo da Vinci arrived at the court of Ludovico Sforza in Milan around 1482, carrying a letter of introduction from Lorenzo de' Medici. He remained approximately seventeen years, working as painter, sculptor, architect, military engineer, and theatrical designer. During this period he produced the Virgin of the Rocks, the Last Supper (painted in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, 1495–1498), and an equestrian monument to Francesco Sforza that was never cast. His notebooks from the Milan years contain his most extensive scientific and engineering studies — hydraulics, anatomy, flying machines, military fortifications — that remained largely unknown until the 19th century.
- Year: 1482 CE
