埃斯特的伊莎贝拉肖像

1482–1500 · 工作地

Milan

1499

The French take Milan

Milan was captured by the troops of King Louis XII of France. Leonardo left the city, and the model of the Francesco Sforza monument was badly damaged.

1500 · 居住

Florence

1500

Flight to Venice with Salaì and Pacioli

When Ludovico Sforza was overthrown by France, Leonardo fled Milan for Venice with his assistant Salaì and his friend the mathematician Luca Pacioli. There he worked as a military architect and engineer, devising ways to defend the city from naval attack.

1500

Back in Florence: a workshop with the Servites

In Florence Leonardo and his household were guests of the Servite monks at Santissima Annunziata, who gave him a workshop. According to Vasari, the cartoon of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist he made there won such admiration that people flocked to see it “as if they were going to a solemn festival”.

1502

In the service of Cesare Borgia

In Cesena Leonardo entered the service of Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, travelling throughout Italy with him. To win his patronage he drew a town plan of Imola, after which Borgia made him his chief military engineer and architect.