The Fabled Leonardo da Vinci Artwork Unrealized due to Assassination, War, Kidnapping, and Invasion
In the heart of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned to create an extraordinary piece of art - an equestrian monument, not just to showcase his skills as an engineer and architect, but also as a sculptor. The monument was intended to honour Ludovico Sforza's father, Francesco Sforza, one of Italy's greatest condottieri.
The idea for the horse monument had its origins in 1479, when Ludovico Sforza, after his return from exile, revived the concept that was originally conceived by his brother, Galeazzo Sforza. However, Galeazzo's assassination put the project on hold.
Initially, Leonardo conceived the monument with Francesco astride and towering above a fallen enemy, but he struggled to execute it on the monumental scale required. By 1490, he had changed the design to a more manageable walking design.
Leonardo continued to work on the monument until 1499, a year marked by significant upheaval. The French invaded Milan, and Ludovico was forced to send all the bronze he had acquired for the sculpture to Ferrara's ruler, Ercole d'Este, to forge a cannon. Tragically, the clay model of the equestrian monument was demolished by the French during their occupation.
Despite the loss of the physical monument, many of Leonardo's preparatory studies for the equestrian statue survive. Some of these studies are part of the Royal Collection.
Leonardo Da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, a painting, however, has made headlines for a different reason. It is the most expensive artwork ever sold, with a price tag of $450 million.
Though the equestrian monument by Leonardo da Vinci remains unrealised, its story continues to captivate art enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into the mind of one of history's most brilliant artists and the challenges he faced in his quest for artistic perfection.
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