On show until September 15, 2019, the exhibition deals with the Master’s last years of activity, through a selection of 23 drawings from the Codex Atlanticus, dating from Leonardo’s French stay, at the court of Francis I
The exhibition, curated by Pietro C. Marani, is part of the cycle of four exhibitions, programmed by the College of Fellows of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana and curated by the leading experts of the Tuscan genius, under the patronage of the National Committee and the Territorial Committee for the celebrations of the 5th centenary since the death of Leonardo da Vinci.
“Leonardo in France – states Pietro C. Marani – focuses on the architectural and hydraulic drawings Leonardo made in France between 1516 and 1518, all traditionally related to the projects of the King of France Francis I for a new royal residence to be built in Romorantin. Here the old castle, inhabited by the king’s mother, Luisa di Savoia, had already been renovated and restored in previous years, but the new royal residence developed in a monumental and urbanistic sense, and Leonardo, in his drawings , seems to be oriented towards the project of two twin palaces, one for the king, the other for the queen Claude of France, surrounded by canals and pavilions. Perhaps Leonardo’s drawings were not used eventually, but the castle of Chambord, built starting from 1519, seems to convey some of Leonardo’s ideas for Romorantin”.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue curated by Pietro C. Marani, which will also include a list of all the other French sheets of the Codex Atlanticus, mostly dedicated to studies of geometry, lunulae and curvilinear stars, with a new study on the types of papers and watermarks.
CA f. 482 r: Studies of lunulae and a note in French, 1517-18; detail
The celebrations for the Leonardian year at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana will end with the exhibition Leonardo and its legacy: the artists and techniques, curated by Benedetta Spadaccini, from September 17th 2019 to January 12th 2020, dedicated to the drawings made by Leonardo and the artists of his circle.
Fondazione Fiera Milano is the official partner of the Ambrosiana Library and will actively collaborate in both the cycle of initiatives dedicated to Leonardo’s celebrations and the enhancement of Raffaello Sanzio’s preparatory Cartoon for the fresco of the School of Athens in the Vatican.
