The life of Leonardo da Vinci by John William Brown

Troubled times in the Duchery of Milan

In 1497, Ludovico's wife, Beatrice d'Este, died after a short illness, and the Duke honoured her memory, according to Corio, with "stupendissime ossequie." From several notes in his tablets we find that these were directed by Leonardo, which affords an additional proof of his patron's confidence.

It was about this time that he became aquinted with Andrea Salajno, whom he received into his studio, and soon admitted to his intimate friendship. He had the greatest regard for this young man, and took great pleasure in teaching him every thing relating to painting: in which he acquired such proficiency, that some of his works in Milan have been falsely attributed to Leonardo. The probability is, that some of them were corrected by him, or had the advantage of receiving hit finishing touches.

Salajno was so gratefully attached to his master, that he never quitted him from that period, and was the constant companion and sharer of his fortunes. Da Vinci's principal occupation during this year was the navigation of the Adda, between Brizzio and Frezzo. This was a most difficult undertaking, from the rapidity of the stream, and the numerous shoals which impeded its progress, and obliged him to excavate a new canal, and form strong supports to prevent the banks from falling in. From different circumstances we may believe that he formed plans to overcome all these difficulties, though it does not appear that they were carried into effect at that period, on the political troubles which embarrassed his patron obliged him to put a sudden termination to many of the works of art which he had previously undertaken.

It is not known that Leonardo painted anything of consequence subsequent to his grand work of "The Last Supper" before the misfortunes of the House of Sforza obliged him to return to his own country, except another portrait of the beautiful Cecilia Gallerani, on wood, which was at some point in time in the possession of the Palavicini family at San Calocero.

It is now necessary to return to the political events, which, by altering the situation of Italy, considerably impaired Leonardo's fortunes, and once more left him to provide for his own subsistence by the exercise of his talents as an artist. The death of Charles the Eighth of France, at Amboise, was the commencement of Ludovici Il Moro's misfortunes, for he had secured himself by a most advantageous treaty with that monarch. He had everything to fear from his successor Louis the Twelfth, who was not only his enemy as King of France, but his rival also in the Duchy of Milan as he laid claim to the sovereignty of that country in right of his mother, Valentina Visconti, and loudly proclaimed his intentions of taking possession of his inheritance by force of arms.

Ludovico plainly perceived the error he had committed, in its fullest extent. By prevailing on the French to come into Italy, he had done himself an irreparable injury, although he had succeeded in no completely occupying the Italian princes, that they had been unable to interfere in his usurpation. He had succeeded in all his plans, and but for his own imprudence would most probably have been able to maintain himself on the throne. His inconsiderate extravagance had exhausted his treasury, and he was obliged to oppress his subjects for heavy contributions, which tended to alienate their affections when he had most need of their support. Notwithstanding all his endeavours to improve his resources, he found that he could not afford any longer to maintain the artists who were in his employ, or to continue the numerous works he had undertaken.

The greatest mortification to Leonardo was his being obliged to abandon all idea of finishing the equestrian statue of Francesco Storza, which was to have been cast in bronze, and had already occupied him so many years. His mould was prepared, and nothing was wanting but the metal, which the Duke was no longer able to furnish, as, according to Da Vinci's own calculation, it would have taken 200,000 pounds weight of bronze. In vain did Leonardo solicit his friends to use their utmost influence with the Duke; in vain did the poets of the court endeavour to flatter him into acquiescence with Da Vinci's wish. Ludovico no longer had it in his power to expend money on the Fine Arts, but was obliged to employ the little that remained in his own defence.