Leonardo Da Vinci and Amboise

Without a doubt, the Loire Valley is probably one of the richest region in history of France. However, even though the kings had a massive impacton our region, leaving behind some amazing Loire castles, we can not ignore the influence of numerous Italian genius...

Leonardo Da Vinci was an artist, inventor, scientist, architect, engineer and philosopher.

Da Vinci's avant-garde ideas stretched from practical (such as asking obvious, but unanswered, questions like ‘How do birds fly?') to visionary (such as his design for an ‘auto-mobil'). His works and philosophies display extreme creativity and brilliance, and have had a dramatic impact upon many generations, including ours today.

Leonardo Da Vinci was the illegitimate son of a notary, Ser Piero, and a peasant girl, Caterina. He was born on 15 th April 1452, in a town neighboring Florence; and eventually became a brother to 17 younger, half siblings. Raised by his father, he was exposed to a vast library of academic literature and his father's love for painting. At the age of fifteen, Da Vinci became an apprentice to Andrea del Verrochio; where he worked for 7 years and displayed such artistic skill that Verrochioi supposedly resolved to never paint again.

Da Vinci used science to further improve his art. It was due to his study on the nature of light and shadow that he realised objects were not composed of outlines, rather, of three-dimensional objects which were defined by light and shadow.

Between 1482-1499, Leonardo Da Vinci was commissioned by the Duke of Milan to construct weapons, engineer machinery and design buildings; as well as to continue practising his fine skills in painting, sculpting and over-seeing the kings decorative festivals.

Leonardo Da Vinci desired to invent machines for a “future world”. In his attempt to measure time he constructed mechanical gears, which he later used in his design for a bicycle, an “auto-mobile” and a helicopter. Due to the nonexistence of electricity at this time, Da Vinci meticulously studied all forms water, devising plans on how to best untilise water to measure humidity and power waterwheels and cannons.

Due to the French invasion of Italy and the fall of Ludovico Sforza in 1499, Da Vinci spent the next 16 years doing free-lance work. During this period he worked as a military engineer; he anticipated the idea of constructing a bridge to Constantinople; he was commissioned to paint the “Battle of Anghiari”, and, in 1503, he supposedly commenced painting the world renowned “Mona Lisa”.

It was in 1516, at the peak of the Renaissance, that Leonardo Da Vinci entered into the service of Francois I, the king of France; arriving with just three paintings (one of which was the ‘Mona Lisa') and a few items tied to his mule. He took up residence in the Chateau de Clos-Lucé, near to the royal Chateau d'Amboise. He spent the last three years of his life as the first architect, painter and engineer to the king. Unhindered by the paralysis of his right hand, Da Vinci continued writing and drawing. He further developed his anatomical studies, as well as his studies on hydraulics; at one stage proposing to reroute rivers in order to connect the royal Loire castles. On the 2 nd May 1519, Leonardo Da Vinci died with Francois I by his side. François I is reported as saying: “ No man ever lived who had learned as much about sculpture, painting, and architecture, but still more that he was a very great philosopher” . Leonardo Da Vinci is buried at the Chateau d'Amboise, in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert.

RiverLoire is passionnate about the man genius,  discover our Loire Valley Tours: Self Guided Loire Valley Tours or Fully Guided Loire Valley Tours.