and 10.] lathe
and have taken the stone,--out leave the books
belonging to Messer Andrea the German,--
make scales of a long reed and weigh the
substance when hot and again when cold.
The mirror of Master Luigi; _A b_ the flow
and ebb of the water is shown at the mill
of Vaprio,--a cap.
1437.
Giovanni Fabre,--Lazaro del Volpe,--
the common,--Ser Piero.
[Footnote: These names are inserted on a plan of
plots of land adjoining the Arno.]
1438.
[Lactantius], [the book of Benozzo],
groups, to bind the book,--a lantern,--Ser
Pecantino,--Pandolfino.--[Rosso]--a square,
--small knives,--carriages,--curry combs--
cup.
1439.
Quadrant of Carlo Marmocchi,--Messer
Francesco Araldo,--Ser Benedetto d'Accie
perello,--Benedetto on arithmetic,--Maestro
Paulo, physician,--Domenico di Michelino,--
...... of the Alberti,--Messer Giovanni
Argimboldi.
1440.
Colours, formula,--Archimedes,--Marcantonio.
Tinned iron,--pierced iron.
1441.
See the shop that was formerly Bartolommeo's,
the stationer.
[Footnote: 6. _Marc Antonio_, see No. 1433.]
1442.
The first book is by Michele di Francesco
Nabini; it treats on science.
1443.
Messer Francesco, physician of Lucca,
with the Cardinal Farnese.
[Footnote: _Alessandro Farnese_, afterwards Pope Paul III
was created in 1493 Cardinal di San Cosimo e San
Damiano, by Alexander VI.]
1444.
Pandolfino's book [Footnote 1: _Pandolfino, Agnolo_, of Florence. It is to
this day doubtful whether he or L. B. Alberti was
the author of the famous work '_Del Governo della
Famiglia_'. It is the more probable that Leonardo
should have meant this work by the words _il libro_,
because no other book is known to have been
written by Pandolfino. This being the case this allusion
of Leonardo's is an important evidence in
favour of Pandolfino's authorship (compare No. 1454,
line 3).],--knives,--a pen
for ruling,--to have the vest dyed,--The
library at St.-Mark's,--The library at Santo
Spirito,--Lactantius of the Daldi [Footnote 7: The works of Lactantius were published
very often in Italy during Leonardo's lifetime. The
first edition published in 1465 "_in monastero
sublacensi_" was also the first book printed in
Italy.],--Antonio
Covoni,--A book by Maestro Paolo Infermieri,
--Boots, shoes and hose,--(Shell)lac,
--An apprentice to do the models for me.
Grammar, by Lorenzo de Medici,--Giovanni
del Sodo,--Sansovino, [Footnote 15: _Sansovino_, Andrea--the _sculptor_; 1460-1529.]--a ruler,--a very
sharp knife,--Spectacles,--fractions....,
--repair.........,--Tomaso's book,--
Michelagnolo's little chain; Learn the multiplication
of roots from Maestro Luca;--my
map of the world which Giovanni Benci
has [Footnote 25: Leonardo here probably alludes to the map,
not executed by him (See p. 224), which is with the
collection of his MSS. at Windsor, and was published
in the _Archaeologia_ Vol. XI (see p. 224).];-Socks,--clothes from the customhouse
--officier,--Red Cordova leather,--The
map of the world, of Giovanni Benci,--a
print, the districts about Milan--Market book.
1445.
In that at Pavia the movement is more
to be admired than any thing else.
The imitation of antique work is better
than that of the modern things.
Beauty and utility cannot exist together,
as seen in fortresses and in men.
The trot is almost the nature of the free
horse.
Where natural vivacity is lacking it must
be supplied by art.
[Footnote: Quel di Pavia_. _Pavia_ is possibly a clerical
error for _Padua_, and if so the meaning of the passage
is easily arrived at: _Quel di Padua_ would be
the bronze equestrian statue of Gattamelata, on the
Piazza del Santo at Padua executed by Donatelle in
1443 (see pp. 2 and 3).]
1446.
Salvadore, the matress maker, lives on the
Piazza di Sant' Andrea, you enter by the furrier's.
1447.
Monsignore de' Pazzi,--Ser Antonio Pacini.
1448.
An algebra, which the Marliani have,
written by their father, [Footnote 1:
_Marliani_, an old Milanese family, now
extinct.]--
On the bone, by the Marliani,--
On the bone which penetrates, Gian Giacomo
of Bellinzona, to draw out the nail with
facility,--
The measurement of Boccalino,--
The measurement of Milan and the suburbs,
[Footnote 5: *21. See Pl. CIX and No. 1016.]--
A book, treating of Milan and its churches
which is to be had at the last stationer's
on the way to Corduso [Footnote 6: _Corduso_, see No. 1413, note.],--
The measurement of the Corte Vecchia,--
The measurement of the Castle,--
Get the master of arithmetic to show you
how to square a....,--
Get Messer Fazio to show you [the book]
on proportion,--
Get the Friar di Brera to show you [the
book] '_de Ponderibus_' [*11],--
Of the measurement of San Lorenzo,--
I lent certain groups to Fra Filippo de
Brera, [*13]--
Memorandum: to ask Maestro Giovannino
as to the mode in which the tower of
Ferrara is walled without loopholes,--
Ask Maestro Antonio how mortars are
placed on bastions by day or by night,--
Ask Benedetto Portinari how the people
go on the ice in Flanders,--
On proportions by Alchino, with notes
by Marliano, from Messer Fazio,--
The measurement of the sun, promised me
by Maestro Giovanni, the Frenchman,--
The cross bow of Maestro Gianetto,--
The book by Giovanni Taverna that
Messer Fazio,--
You will draw Milan [21],--
The measurement of the canal, locks and
supports, and large boats; and the expense,--
Plan of Milan [Footnote 23: _Fondamento_ is commonly used by Leonardo to
mean ground-plan. See for instance p. 53.],--
Groups by Bramante [Footnote 24: _Gruppi_. See Vol. I p. 355, No. 600, note 9.],--
The book on celestial phenomena by
Aristoteles, in Italian [Footnote 25: _Meteora_. By this Leonardo means no doubt
the four books *. He must refer
here to a MS. translation, as no Italian translation
is known to have been published (see No. 1477
note).],--
Try to get Vitolone, which is in the
library at Pavia [Footnote 26: _Vitolone_ see No. 1506, note.
_Libreria di Pavia_. One of the most famous of
Italian libraries. After the victory of Novara in
April 1500, Louis XII had it conveyed to France,
'_come trofeo di vittoria_'!] and which treats of
Mathematics,--He had a master [learned] in
waterworks and get him to explain the repairs
and the costs, and a lock and a canal and
a mill in the Lombard fashion.
A grandson of Gian Angelo's, the painter
has a book on water which was his fathers.
Paolino Scarpellino, called Assiolo has
great knowledge of water works.
1449.
Francesco d'Antonio at Florence.
11. 13. [Footnote: _Brera_, now _Palazzo delle Scienze ed Arti.
Until 1571 it was the monastery of the order of the
Umiliati and afterwards of the Jesuits.
_De ponderibus_, compare No. 1436, 3.]
12. [Footnote: _Sco Lorenzo_. A church at Milan, see pp. 39,
40 and 50.]
*13. 24. [Footnote: _Gruppi_. See Vol. I p. 355, No. 600, note 9.]
*16. [Footnote: The _Portinari_ were one of the great merchant-
families of Florence.]
1450.
Giuliano Condi[*1],--Tomaso Ridolf1,--
Tomaso Paganelli,--Nicolo delNero,--Simone
Zasti,--Nasi,--the heir of Lionardo Manelli,
--Guglielmo di Ser Martino,--Bartolomeo
del Tovaglia,--Andrea Arrigucci,--
Nicolo Capponi,--Giovanni Portinari.
[Footnote: I. _Guiliano Gondi_. Ser Piero da Vinci,
Leonardo's father, lived till 1480, in a house belonging
to Giuliano Gondi. In 1498 this was pulled
down to make room for the fine Palazzo built on
the Piazza San Firenze by Giuliano di San Gallo,
which still exists. In the _Riassunto del Catasto di Ser
Piero da Vinci_, 1480, Leonardo is not mentioned; it
is evident therefore that he was living elsewhere. It
may be noticed incidentally that in the _Catasto di
Giuliano Gondi_ of the same year the following mention
is made of his four eldest sons:
_Lionardo mio figliuolo d'eta d'anni 29, non fa nulla,
Giovambatista d'eta d'anni 28 in Ghostantinopoli,
Billichozo d'eta d'anni 24 a Napoli,
Simone d'eta d'anni 23 in Ungheria.
He himself was a merchant of gold filigree (_facciamo
lavorare una bottegha d'arte di seta ... facciamo
un pocho di trafico a Napoli_}, As he was 59 years
old in 1480, he certainly would not have been alive
at the time of Leonardo's death. But Leonardo must
have been on intimate terms with the family till the
end of his life, for in a letter dated June 1. 1519,
in which Fr. Melzi, writing from Amboise, announces
Leonardo's death to Giuliano da Vinci at Florence
(see p. 284), he says at the end "_Datemene risposta per
i Gondi_" (see UZIELLI, _Ricerche_, passim).
Most of the other names on the list are those
of well-known Florentine families.]
1451.
Pandolfino.
1452.
Vespuccio will give me a book of Geometry.
[Footnote: See No. 844, note, p. 130.]
1453.
Marcantonio Colonna at Santi Apostoli.
[Footnote: In July 1506 Pope Julius II gave Donna
Lucrezia della Rovere, the daughter of his sister
Lucchina, in marriage to the youthful Marcantonio
Colonna, who, like his brothers Prospero and
Fabrizio, became one of the most famous Captains
of his family. He gave to him Frascati
and made him a present of the palazzo he had
built, when Cardinal, near the church of Santi Apostoli
which is now known as the Palazzo Colonna
(see GREGOROVIUS, _Gesch. der Stadt Rom._
Vol. VIII, book XIV I, 3. And COPPI, _Mem. Colonnesi
p. 251).]
1454.
A box, a cage,--
A square, to make the bird [Footnote 2:
Vasari states that Leonardo invented mechanical
birds which moved through the air. Compare
No. 703.],--
Pandolfino's book, mortar [?],--
Small knives, Venieri for the
*1454. [Footnote: Much of No. 1444 is repeated in this memorandum.]
*Pen for ruling, stone,--star,--
To have the vest dyed, Alfieri's tazza,--
The Libraries, the book on celestial
phenomena,--
Lactantius of the go to the house of
Daldi,-- the Pazzi,
Book from Maestro small box,--
Paolo Infermieri,--
Boots, shoes and small gimlet,--
hose,
Lac, .......,--
An apprentice for .....,--
models,
Grammar of Lo-the amount of the
renzo de' Medici,...
Giovanni del Sodo .....
for...,--the broken
Sansovino, the....
Piero di Cosino [Footnote 16: _Pier di Cosimo_ the well known Florentine
painter 1462-1521. See VASARI, _Vite_ (Vol. IV, p. 134
ed. Sansoni 1880) about Leonardo's influence on
Piero di Cosimo's style of painting.], the wings,--
Filippo and Lorenzo [Footnote 17: _Filippo e Lorenzo_;
probably the painters Filippino
Lippi and Lorenzo di Credi. L. di Credi's pictures
and Vasari's history of that painter bear ample evidence
to his intimate relations with Leonardo.],--A ruler-,--
Spectacles,--to do the..... again,--To-
maso's book,--Michelagnolo's chain,--The
multiplication of roots,--Of the bow and
strinch,--The map of the world from Benci,--
Socks,--The clothes from the custom-house
officier,--Cordova leather,--Market books,
--waters of Cronaca,--waters of Tanaglino...,
--the caps,--Rosso's mirror; to see him make
it,--1/3 of which I have 5/6,--on the celestial
phenomena, by Aristotle [Footnote 36: _Meteora_. See No. 1448, 25.],--boxes
of Lorenzo di Pier Francesco [Footnote 37: _Lorenzo di Pier Francesco_ and his brother _Giovanni_
were a lateral branch of the _Medici_ family and
changed their name for that of Popolani.],--Maestro
Piero of the Borgo,--To have my book
bound,--Show the book to Serigatto,--
and get the rule of the clock [Footnote 41:
Possibly this refers to the clock on the tower
of the Palazzo Vecchio at Florence. In February
1512 it had been repaired, and so arranged as to
indicate the hours after the French manner (twelve
hours a. m. and as many p. m.).],--
ring,--nutmeg,--gum,--the square,--Giovan'
Batista at the piazza, de' Mozzi,--Giovanni
Benci has my book and jaspers,--brass for
the spectacles.
1455.
Search in Florence for......
*7. 36. _Meteora_. See No. 1448, 25.
1456.
Bernardo da Ponte ... Val di Lugano
... many veins for anatomical demonstration.
[Footnote: This fragmentary note is written on the
margin of a drawing of two legs.]
1457.
Paolo of Tavechia, to see the marks in
the German stones.
[Footnote: This note occurs on a pen and ink drawing
made by Leonardo as a sketch for the celebrated
large cartoon in the possession of the Royal Academy
of Arts, in London. This cartoon is commonly
supposed to be identical with that described
and lauded by Vasari, which was exhibited in Florence
at the time and which now seems to be lost.
Mr. Alfred Marks, of Long Ditton, in his valuable
paper (read before the Royal Soc. of Literature,
June 28, 1882) "On the St. Anne of Leonardo da
Vinci", has adduced proof that the cartoon now in the
Royal Academy was executed earlier at Milan. The note
here given, which is written on the sheet containing
the study for the said cartoon, has evidently no
reference to the drawing on which it is written
but is obviously of the same date. Though I have
not any opening here for discussing this question of
the cartoon, it seemed to me important to point out
that the character of the writing in this note does
not confirm the opinion hitherto held that the Royal
Academy cartoon was the one described by Vasari,
but, on the contrary, supports the hypothesis put
forward by Mr. Marks.]
Notes on
pupils
(1458-1468.)
1458.
Giacomo came to live with me on St.-Mary
Magdalen's[*1] day, 1490, aged 10 years. The
second day I had two shirts cut out for him,
a pair of hose, and a jerkin, and when I put
aside some money to pay for these things
he stole 4 _lire_
the money out of the purse; and I could never
make him confess, though I was quite certain
of the fact.--Thief, liar, obstinate, glutton.
The day after, I went to sup with Giacomo
Andrea, and the said Giacomo supped
for two and did mischief for four; for he
brake 3 cruets, spilled the wine, and after
this came to sup where I....
Item: on the 7th day of September he
stole a silver point of the value of 22 soldi
from Marco [Footnote 6: _Marco_, probably Leonardo's pupil Marco d'Oggionno;
1470 is supposed to be the date of his
birth and 1540 of his death.
_Che stava con meco._ We may infer from this that
he left the master shortly after this, his term of
study having perhaps expired.] who was living with me, 4 _lire_
this being of silver; and he took it from his
studio, and when the said Marco had searched
for it a long while he found it hidden
in the said Giacomo's box 4 _lire_.
[Footnote: _Il di della Maddalena._ July 22.]
Item: on the 26th January following,
I, being in the house of Messer Galeazzo
da San Severino [Footnote 9: Galeazza. See No. 718 note.], was arranging the festival for his jousting,
and certain footmen having undressed to try on some costumes of wild men for the said festival, Giacomo
went to the purse of one of them which lay
on the bed with other clothes, 2 lire 4 S,
and took out such money as was in it.
Item: when I was in the same house,
Maestro Agostino da Pavia gave to me a
Turkish hide to have 2 lire.
a pair of short boots made of it; this
Giacomo stole it of me within a month and
sold it to a cobbler for 20 soldi, with
which money, by his own confession, he
bought anise comfits.
Item: again, on the 2nd April, Giovan
Antonio [Footnote 16:Giovan Antonio, probably Beltraffio, 1467 to 1516.] having left a silver point on a
drawing of his, Giacomo stole it, and this
was of the value of 24 soldi 1 lira 4 S.
The first year-
A cloak, 2 lire,
6 shirts, 4 lire,
3 jerkins, 6 lire,
4 pairs of hose, 7 lire 8 soldi,
1 lined doublet, 5 lire,
24 pairs of shoes, 6 lire 5 soldi,
A cap, l lira,
laces, 1 lira.
[Footnote: Leonardo here gives a detailed account not only of the loss he and others incurred through Giacomo
but of the wild tricks of the youth, and we may
therefore assume that the note was not made merely
as a record for his own use, but as a report to be
forwarded to the lad's father or other responsible
guardian.]
S.K.M. III. Ia]
1459.
On the last day but one of September;
Thursday the 27th day of September
Maestro Tommaso came back and worked for
himself until the last day but one of February.
On the 18th day of March, 1493, Giulio, a
German, came to live with me,--Lucia, Piero,
Leonardo.
On the 6th day of October.
1460.
1493.
On the 1st day of November we settled
accounts. Giulio had to pay 4 months;
and Maestro Tommaso 9 months; Maestro
Tommaso afterwards made 6 candlesticks,
10 days' work; Giulio some fire-tongs
15 days work. Then he worked for himself
till the 27th May, and worked for me at a
lever till the 18th July; then for himself till
the 7th of August, and for one day, on the
fifteenth, for a lady. Then again for me at
2 locks until the 20th of August.
1461.
On the 23rd day of August, 12 lire from
Pulisona. On the 14th of March 1494, Galeazzo
came to live with me, agreeing to
pay 5 lire a month for his cost paying on
the l4th day of each month.
His father gave me 2 Rhenish florins.
On the l4th of July, I had from Galeazze
2 Rhenish florins.
1462.
On the l5th day of September Giulio began
the lock of my studio 1494.
1463.
Saturday morning the 3rd of August 1504
Jacopo the German came to live with me
in the house, and agreed with me that I should
charge him a carlino a day.
1464.
1511.
On the 26th of September Antonio broke
his leg; he must rest 40 days.
[Footnote: This note refers possibly to Beltraffio.]
1465.
I left Milan for Rome on the 24th day of
September, 1513, with Giovanni [*2], Francesco
di Melzi [*3], Salai, Lorenzo and il Fanfoia.
1466.
On the 3rd day of January.
Benedetto carne on the 17th of October;
he stayed with me two months and 13 days
of last year [*4], in which time he earned
38 lire, 18 soldi and 8 dinari; he had of
this 26 lire and 8 soldi, and there remains
to be paid for the past year 12 lire 10 soldi.
Giodatti (?) came on the 8th day of September,
at 4 soldi a month, and stayed with
me 3 months and 24 days, and earned 59 lire
14 soldi and 8 dinari; he has had 43 lire,
4 soldi, there remains to pay 16 lire, 10 soldi
and 8 dinari.
Benedetto, 24 grossoni.
1467.
Gian Maria 4,
Benedetto 4,
Gian Pietro [*5] 3,
Salai 3,
Bartolomeo 3,
Gherardo 4.
*1465. 2. _Giovan;_ it is not likely that Leonardo
should have called Giovan' Antonio Beltraffio at one
time Giovanni, as in this note and another time Antonio,
as in No. 1464 while in No. 1458 l. 16 we find
_Giovan'Antonio_, and in No. 1436, l.6 _Beltraffio_. Possibly
the Giovanni here spoken of is Leonardo's less
known pupil Giovan Pietrino (see No. 1467, 5).
2. 3. _Francesco de' Melzi_ is often mentioned, see
Nos. 1350.
3. _Salai_. See No. 1519 note.
4. _Lorenzo_. See No. 1351, l. 10 (p. 408). Amoretti
gives the following note in _Mem. Stor. XXIII:_ 1505.
_Martedi-sera a di 14 d'aprile. Venne Lorenzo a stare
con mecho: disse essere d'eta d'anni 17 .. a di 15 del
detto aprile ebbi scudi 25 d'oro dal chamerlingo di Santa
Maria nuova._ This, he asserts is derived from a MS.
marked S, in quarto. This MS. seems to have
vanished and left no trace behind; Amoretti himself
had not seen it, but copied from a selection of
extracts made by Oltrocchi before the Leonardo
MSS. were conveyed to Paris on the responsibility
of the first French Republic. Lorenzo, by this, must
have been born in 1487. The sculptor Lorenzetto
was born in 1490. Amoretti has been led by the
above passage to make the following absurd observations:
_Cotesto Lorenzo, che poi gli fu sempre compagno, almeno
sin che stette in Italia, sarebb' egli Lorenzo Lotto
bergamasco? Sappiamo essere stato questo valente dipintore
uno de' bravi scolari del Vinci_ (?).
_Il Fafoia_, perhaps a nickname. Cesare da Sesto,
Leonardo's pupil, seems to have been in Rome in these
years, as we learn from a drawing by him in the Louvre.
1466. This seems to be an account for two assistants.
The name of the second is scarcely legible.
The year is not given. The note is nevertheless of
chronological value. The first line tells us the date
when the note was registered, January 3d, and the*
C.A.F. 279a; 855a]
1468.
Salai, 20 lire,
Bonifacio, 2 lire,
Bartolomeo, 4 lire,
Arrigo [Harry], 15 lire.
C.A. 207a; 609a]
Quotations
and notes on
books and
authors
(1469--1508).
1469.
Book on Arithmetic [Footnote 1: "La nobel opera de arithmethica ne la qual se tracta
tute cosse amercantia pertinente facta & compilata per
Piero borgi da Veniesia", in-40. In fine: "Nela inclita
cita di Venetia a corni. 2 augusto. 1484. fu imposto fine
ala presente opera." Segn. a--p. quaderni. V'ha pero
un' altra opera simile di Filippo Calandro, 1491. E da
consultarsi su quest' ultimo, Federici: Memorie Trevigiane,
Fiore di virtu: pag. 73. "Libricciuolo composto di bello stile
verso il 1320 e piu volte impresso nel secolo XV (ristampato
poi anche piu tardi). Gli accademici della Crusca lo
ammettono nella serie dei testi di lingua. Vedasi Gamba,
Razzolini, Panzer, Brunet, Lechi, ecc. (G. D'A.)] 'Flowers of Virtue',
Pliny, [Footnote 2: "Historia naturale di C. Plinio Secondo, tradocta di
lingua latina in fiorentina per Christophoro Laudino &
Opus Nicolai Jansonis gallici imp. anno salutis
M. CCCC.LXXVI.Venetiis" in-fol.-Diogene Laertio.
Incomincia: "El libro de la vita de philosophi etc.:
Impressum Venetiis" per Bernardinum Celerium de Luere,
1480", in-40(G. D'A.).] 'Lives of the Philosophers',
The Bible, [Footnote 3:"La Bibia volgare historiata (per Nicolo di Mallermi) Venecia ... M.CCCC.LXXI in kalende di
Augusto (per Vindelino de Spira)" 2 vol. in-fol. a 2 col.
di 50 lin,; od altra ediz. della stessa versione del
Mallermi, Venetia 1471, e sempre: "Venecia per Gabriel de
Piero 1477," in-fol.; 2 vol.; Ottavio Scotto da Modoetia
1481," "Venetia 1487 per Joan Rosso Vercellese," "1490
Giovanni Ragazo di Monteferato a instantia di Luchanthonio
di Giunta, ecc."--Lapidario Teofrasto? Mandebille: "Le
grand lapidaire," versioneitaliana ms.?... Giorgio Agricola
non puo essere, perche nato nel 1494, forse Alberto Magno:
de mineralibus. * Potrebbe essere una traduzione del poema
latino (Liber lapidum seu de gemmis) di Marbordio Veterio
di Rennes (morto nel II23 da lui stesso tradotto in
francese dal greco di Evao re d'Arabia celebre medico che
l'aveva composto per l'imperatore Tiberio. Marbodio scrisse
il suo prima per Filippo Augusto re di Francia. Vi sono
anche traduzioni in prosa. "Il lapidario o la forza e la
virtu delle pietre preziose, delle Erbe e degli Animali."
(G. D'A.)] 'Lapidary',
'On warfare' [Footnote 4:Il Vegezio?... Il Frontino?,.. Il Cornazzano?...
Noi crediamo piuttosto il Valturio. Questo libro doveva
essere uno de'favoriti di Leonardo poiche libro di scienza e d'arte nel tempo stesso.]'Epistles of Filelfo',
[Footnote: The late Marchese Girolamo d'Adda published
a highly valuable and interesting disquisition on this
passage under the title: Leonardo da Vinci e la sua
Libreria, note di un bibliofilo (Milano 1873. Ed. di soli
75 esemplari; privately printed). In the autumn of
1880 the Marchese d'Adda showed me a considerable mass of additional notes prepared for a second
edition. This, as he then intended, was to come
out after the publication of this work of mine. After
the much regretted death of the elder Marchese, his
son, the Marchese Gioachino d'Adda was so liberal
as to place these MS. materials at my disposal for
the present work, through the kind intervention of
Signor Gustavo Frizzoni. The following passages,
with the initials G. d'A. are prints from the valuable
notes in that publication, the MS. additions I have
marked*. I did not however think myself justified
in reproducing here the acute and interesting
observations on the contents of most of the rare books
here enumerated.]
****below must belong to previous page's footnotes***
observations that follow refer to events of the previous month 'of last year' (dell' anno passato). Leonardo
cannot therefore have written thus in Florence where
the year was, at that period, calculated as beginning
in the month of March (see Vol. I, No. 4, note 2).
He must then have been in Milan. What is more
important is that we thus learn how to date the
beginning of the year in all the notes written at
Milan. This clears up Uzielli's doubts: A Milano
facevasi cominciar l'anno ab incarnatione, cioe il 25
Marzo e a nativitate, cioe il 25 Decembre. Ci sembra
probabile che Leonardo dovesse prescegliere lo stile che era in uso a Firenze. (Ricerche, p. 84, note.)
1467. 5. See No. 1465, 2.
****Above must belong to previous page's footnotes***
The first decade, [5] 'On the preservation of health',
The third decade, [6] Ciecho d'Ascoli,
The fourth decade, [7] Albertus Magnus,
Guido, [8] New treatise on rhetorics,
Piero Crescentio, [9] Cibaldone,
'Quadriregio', [10] AEsop,
*** IGNORE FOOTNOTES FOR THIS PAGE - Project Manager *** Donato, [Footnote 11:
"_Donatus latine & italice: Impressum Venetiis impensis
Johannis Baptistae de Sessa anno_ 1499, _in_-4°*".--
"El Psalterio de David in lingua volgare (da Malermi
Venetia nel M.CCCC.LXXVI," in-fol. s. n._ (G. D'A.)]
Psalms,
Justinus, [Footnote 12:
Compare No. 1210, 48.--_La versione di Girolamo
Squarzafico: "Il libro di Justino posto diligentemente in
materna lingua. Venetia ale spesse (sic) di Johane de Colonia
& Johane Gheretze_ ... l477," _in-fol._--"_Marsilii Ficini, Theologia
platonica, sive de animarum immortalitate, Florentine,
per Ant. Misconimum_ 1482," _in-fol., ovvero qualche versione
italiana di questo stesso libro, ms._ (G. D'A.)]
'On the immortality of
the soul,
Guido [Footnote 13:
_Forse "la Historia Trojana Guidonis" od il "manipulus"
di "Guido da Monterocherii" ma piu probabilmente
"Guido d'Arezzo" il di cui libro: "Micrologus, seu disciplina
artis musicae" poteva da Leonardo aversi ms.; di
questi ne esistono in molto biblioteche, e fu poi impresso
nel 1784 dal Gerbert._
_Molte sono le edizione dei sonetti di Burchiello Fiorentino,
impresse nel secolo XV. La prima e piu rara e
recercata: "Incominciano li sonetti, ecc. (per Christoforo
Arnaldo)", in_-4°* _senza numeri, richiami o segnature, del_
1475, _e fors' anche del_ 1472, _secondo Morelli e Dibdin, ecc._
(G. D'A.)]
Burchiello,
'Doctrinale' [Footnote 14:
_Versione italiana det "Doctrinal de Sapience"
di Guy de Roy, e foris'anche l'originale in lingua
francese.--_
_Di Pulci Luigi, benche nell' edizione:_ "_Florentiae_ 1479"
_in_-4°* si dica: "Il Driadeo composto in rima octava per
Lucio Pulcro" Altre ediz, del secolo XV, "Florentie Miscomini_
1481, _in_-40*, _Firenze, apud S. Jacob, de Ripoli,_ 1483,"
_in_-4°* _e "Antoni de Francesco,_ 1487," _in_-4°* _e Francesco
di Jacopo_ 1489,_in_-4°* _ed altre ancora di Venezia e senza
alcuna nota ecc._ (G. D'A.)]
Driadeo,
Morgante [Footnote 15:
_Una delle edizioni del Morgante impresse nel secolo
XV, ecc.--_
_Quale delle opere di Francesco Petrarca, sarebbe malagevole
l'indovinare, ma probabilmente il Canzoniere._
(G. D'A.)]
Petrarch.
John de Mandeville [Footnote 16:
_Sono i viaggi del cavaliere_ "_Mandeville_" _gentiluomo
inglese. Scrisse il suo libro in lingua francese.
Fu stampato replicatamente nel secolo XV in francese, in
inglese ed in italiano * ed in tedesco; del secolo XV ne
annoverano forse piu di 27 edizioni, di cui ne conosciamo_
8 _in francese, quattro in latino, sei in tedesco e molte altre
in volgare._ (G. D'A.)]
'On honest recreation' [Footnote 17:
_Il Platina (Bartolomeo Sacchi) la versione italiana_
"_de la honesta voluptate, & valetudine (& de li obsonnii)
Venetia (senza nome di tipografo)_ 1487," _piccolo in_-4°*
_gotico._ (G. D'A.)--Compare No. 844, 21.]
Manganello, [Footnote 18:
_Il Manganello: Satira eccessivamente vivace contro
le donne ad imitazione della Sesta di Giovenale. Manganello
non e soltanto il titolo del libricino, sua ben anche
il nome dell'autore ch'era un_ "_milanese_". _Di questo libercolo
rarissimo, che sembra impresso a Venezia dallo
Zoppino (Nicolo d'Aristotile detto il), senza data, ma dei
primissimi anni del secolo XVI, e forse piu antico, come
vedremo in appresso, non se ne conoscono fra biblioteche
pubbliche e private che due soli esemplari in Europa._
(G. D'A.)]
The Chronicle of Isidoro, [Footnote 19:
"_Cronica desidero_", _sembra si deggia leggere piuttosto_
"_cronico disidoro_"_; ed in questo caso s'intenderebbe la_
"_cronica d'Isidoro_" _tanto in voga a quel tempo_ "_Comenza
la Cronica di Sancto Isidoro menore con alchune additione
cavate del testo & istorie de la Bibia & del libro di Paulo
Oroso .... Impresso in Ascoli in casa del reverendo
misser Pascale ..... per mano di Guglielmo de Linis
de Alamania M.CCCC.LXXVII_" _in_-40* _di_ 157 _ff. E il
primo libro impresso ad Ascoli e l'edizione principe di
questa cronica in oggi assai rara. Non lo e meno l'edizione
di Cividal del Friuli_, 1480, _e quella ben anche di
Aquila_, 1482, _sempre in-_40. _Vedasi Panzer, Hain, Brunet
e P. Dechamps._ (G. D'A.)]
The Epistles of Ovid, [Footnote 20:
"_Le pistole di Ovidio tradotte in prosa. Napoli
Sixt. Riessinger_", _in_-40*, _oppure:_ "_Epistole volgarizzate_
1489," _in_-40* _a due col._ "_impresse ne la cita (sic) di Bressa
per pre: Baptista de Farfengo,_" _(in ottave) o:_ "_El libro
dele Epistole di Ovidio in rima volgare per messere Dominico
de Monticelli toschano. Brescia Farfengo_," _in_-4°*
_got. (in rima volgare)_, 1491, _ed anche la versione di Luca
Pulci. Firenze, Mischomini_, 1481, _in_-4°*. (G. D'A.) ]
Epistles of Filelfo, [Footnote 21: See l. 4.]
Sphere, [Footnote 22: "_Jo: de Sacrobusto_,"
_o_ "_Goro Dati_," _o_ "_Tolosano da
Colle_" _di cui molteplici edizioni del secolo XV._ (G. D'A.)]
*_nello da Streno,_ 1497, _in_-4°*, _ecc., o piu probabilmente:
"Aesopi" vita & fabula' latine cum versione italica &
allegoriis Fr. Tuppi impressae, Napoli,_ 1483," _in-fol., rara
edizione ornata di belle vignette incise in legno. Questo
Esopo e anche libro di novelle. Nel Catalogo Cicognara
abbiamo una minuta descrizione di questo rarissimo volume._ (G. D'A.)
The Jests of Poggio [Footnote 23:
_Tre edizioni delle facezie del Poggio abbiamo in
lingua italiana della fine del secolo XV, tutte senza data._
"_Facetie de Poggio fiorentino traducte de latino in vulgare
ornatissimo,_" _in_-4°*, _segn. a--e in caratteri romani; l'altra:
"_Facetie traducte de latino in vulgare,_" _in_-4°*, _caratteri
gotici, ecc._ (G. D'A.)
]
Chiromancy, [Footnote 24:
*"_Die Kunst Cyromantia etc, in tedesco._ 26 _ff. di
testo e figure il tutte eseguito su tavole di legno verso la
fine del secolo XV da Giorgio Schapff_". _Dibdin, Heinecken,
Sotheby e Chatto ne diedero una lunga descrizione; i primi
tre accompagnati da fac-simili. La data_ 1448 _che si legge
alla fine del titolo si riferisce al periodo della composizione
del testo, non a quello della stampa del volume benche
tabellario. Altri molti libri di Chiromanzia si conoscono di
quel tempo e sarebbe opera vana il citarli tutti._ (G. D'A.)]
Formulary of letters, [Footnote 25:
_Miniatore Bartolomeo._ "_Formulario de epistole vulgare
missive e responsive, & altri fiori de ornali parlamenti
al principe Hercule d'Esti ecc. composto ecc. Bologna
per Ugo di Rugerii,_" _in_-4°*, _del secolo XV, Altra
edizione di "Venetia Bernardino di Novara_, 1487" _e _"_Milano
per Joanne Angelo Scinzenzeler_ 1500," _in_-4°*. (G. D'A.)
Five books out of this list are noted by Leonardo
in another MS. (Tr. 3): _donato,--lapidario,--plinio,
--abacho,--morgante._
]
1470.
Nonius Marcellus, Festus Pompeius, Marcus Varro.
[Footnote: Nonius Marcellus and Sextus Pompeius Festus
were Roman grammarians of about the fourth century
A. D. Early publications of the works of Marcellus
are: _De proprietate sermonis, Romae_ (about 1470),
and 1471 (place of publication unknown). _Compendiosa
doctrina, ad filium, de proprietate sermonum._ Venice,
1476. BRUNET, _Manuel du libraire_ (IV, p. 97)
notes: _Le texte de cet ancien grammairien a ete reimprime
plusieurs fois a la fin du XVe siecle, avec ceux de Pomponius
Festus et de Terentius Varro. La plus ancienne
edition qui reunisse ces trois auteurs est celle de Parme_,
1480 ... _Celles de Venise_, 1483, 1490, 1498, _et de
Milan_, 1500, _toutes in-fol,, ont peli de valeur._]
1471.
Map of Elephanta in India which Antonello
Merciaio has from maestro Maffeo;--there for
seven years the earth rises and for seven
years it sinks;--Enquire at the stationers
about Vitruvius.
1472.
See 'On Ships' Messer Battista, and Frontinus
'On Acqueducts' [Footnote 2: 2. _Vitruvius de Arch., et Frontinus de Aquedoctibus._
Florence, l5l3.--This is the earliest edition of
Frontinus.--The note referring to this author thus
suggests a solution of the problem of the date of
the Leicester Manuscript.].
[Footnote: Compare No. 1113, 25.]
1473.
Anaxagoras: Every thing proceeds from
every thing, and every thing becomes every
thing, and every thing can be turned into
every thing else, because that which exists in
the elements is composed of those elements.
**Wrong text!
1474-
The Archimedes belonging to the Bishop
of Padua.
1475-
Archimedes gave the quadrature of a poly-
gonal figure, but not of the circle. Hence
Archimedes never squared any figure with
curved sides. He squared the circle minus
the smallest portion that the intellect can
conceive, that is the smallest point visible.
1476.
If any man could have discovered the
utmost powers of the cannon, in all its
various forms and have given such a secret
to the Romans, with what rapidity would
they have conquered every country and have
vanquished every army, and what reward could
have been great enough for such a service!
Archimedes indeed, although he had greatly
damaged the Romans in the siege of Syra-
cuse, nevertheless did not fail of being offered
great rewards from these very Romans; and
when Syracuse was taken, diligent search was
made for Archimedes; and he being found
dead greater lamentation was made for him
by the Senate and people of Rome than if
they had lost all their army; and they
did not fail to honour him with burial and
with a statue. At their head was Marcus
Marcellus. And after the second destruction
of Syracuse, the sepulchre of Archimedes was
found again by Cato[25], in the ruins of a
temple. So Cato had the temple restored and
the sepulchre he so highly honoured....
Whence it is written that Cato said that he
was not so proud of any thing he had done
as of having paid such honour to Archimedes.
1474. See No. 1421, 1. 3, 6 and Vol. I, No. 343.
1475. Compare No. 1504.
1476. Where Leonardo found the statement that
Cato had found and restored the tomb of Archi-
medes, I do not know. It is a merit that Cicero
claims as his own (Tusc. V, 23) and certainly with
a full right to it. None of Archimedes' biographers
-not even the diligent Mazzucchelli, mentions any
version in which Cato is named. It is evidently a
slip of the memory on Leonardo's part. Besides,
according to the passage in Cicero, the grave was
not found 'nelle mine ffun tempio'-which is highly
improbable as relating to a Greek-but in an open
spot (H. MULLER-STROBING).--See too, as to Archi-
medes, No. 1417.
Leonardo says somewhere in MS. C.A.: Archi-
tronito e una macchina di fino rame, invenzlon d* Archi-
mede (see 'Saggiol, p. 20).
I.2 82b]
1477.
Aristotle, Book 3 of the Physics, and
Albertus Magnus, and Thomas Aquinas and
the others on the rebound of bodies, in
the 7th on Physics, on heaven and earth.
M. 62a]
1478.
Aristotle says that if a force can move
a body a given distance in a given time, the
same force will move half the same body
twice as far in the same time.
C. A. 284b; 865b]
1479.
Aristotle in Book 3 of the Ethics: Man
merits praise or blame solely in such mat-
ters as lie within his option to do or not
to do.
C.A. 121a; 375a]
1480.
Aristotle says that every body tends to
maintain its nature.
K.2 3b]
1481.
On the increase of the Nile, a small book
by Aristotle.
[Footnote: _De inundatione Nili_, is quoted here and
by others as a work of Aristotle. The Greek
original is lost, but a Latin version of the beginning
exists (Arist. Opp. IV p. 213 ed. Did. Par.).
In his quotations from Aristotle Leonardo possibly
refers to one of the following editions: _Aristotelis libri IV
de coelo et mundo; de anima libri III; libri VIII physi-
corum; libri de generatione et corruptione; de sensu et
sensato... omnia latine, interprete Averroe, Venetiis 1483_
(first Latin edition). There is also a separate edition
of _Liber de coelo et mundo_, dated 1473.]
W.A. IV.151b]
1482.
Avicenna will have it that soul gives birth
to soul as body to body, and each member
to itself.
[Footnote: Avicenna, see too No. 1421, 1. 2.]
F. o"]
1483.
Avicenna on liquids.
Br.M. 71b]
1484.
Roger Bacon, done in print.
[Footnote:The earliest printed edition known to Brunet
of the works of Roger Bacon, is a French translation, which appeared about fourty years after Leonardo's
death.]
C.A. 139b; 419b]
1485.
Cleomedes the philosopher.
[Footnote: Cleomede. A Greek mathematician of the
IVth century B. C. We have a Cyclic theory of
Meteorica by him. His works were not published before
Leonardo's death.]
Tr. 4]
1486.
CORNELIUS CELSUS.
The highest good is wisdom, the chief
evil is suffering in the body. Because, as
we are composed of two things, that is soul
and body, of which the first is the better,
the body is the inferior; wisdom belongs
to the better part, and the chief evil belongs
to the worse part and is the worst of all.
As the best thing of all in the soul is
wisdom, so the worst in the body is suf-
fering. Therefore just as bodily pain is the
chief evil, wisdom is the chief good of the
soul, that is with the wise man; and nothing
else can be compared with it.
[Footnote: Aulus Cornelius Celsus, a Roman physician,
known as the Roman Hippocrates, probably contemporary with Augustus. Only his eight Books 'De
Medicina", are preserved. The earliest editions are:
Cornelius Celsus, de medicina libr. VIII., Milan 1481
Venice 1493 and 1497.]
Tr. 57]
1487.
Demetrius was wont to say that there was
no difference between the speech and words
of the foolish and ignorant, and the noises
and rumblings of the wind in an inflated
stomach. Nor did he say so without reason,
for he saw no difference between the parts
whence the noise issued; whether their lower
parts or their mouth, since one and the
other were of equal use and importance.
[Footnote: Compare Vol. I, No. 10.]
S.K.M. III.93a]
1488.
Maestro Stefano Caponi, a physician, lives
at the piscina, and has Euclid De Ponderibus.
K.2 2a]
1489.
5th Book of Euclid. First definition: a
part is a quantity of less magnitude than
the greater magnitude when the less is
contained a certain number of times in the
greater.
A part properly speaking is that which
may be multiplied, that is when, being
multiplied by a certain number, it forms exactly
the whole. A common aggregate part ...
Second definition. A greater magnitude is
said to be a multiple of a less, when the
greater is measured by the less.
By the first we define the lesser [magnitude]
and by the second the greater is defined.
A part is spoken
K.2 2b]
1490.
of in relation to the whole; and all their
relations lie between these two extremes, and
are called multiples.
S.K.M.III. 16b]
1491.
Hippocrates says that the origin of men's
sperm derives from the brain, and from the
lungs and testicles of our parents, where the
final decocture is made, and all the other
limbs transmit their substance to this sperm
by means of expiration, because there are no
channels through which they might come to
the sperm.
[Footnote: The works of Hippocrates were printed first after Leonardo's death.] Ash.II. IIb]
1492.
Lucretius in his third [book] 'De Rerum
Natura'. The hands, nails and teeth were (165)
the weapons of ancient man.
They also use for a standard a bunch of
grass tied to a pole (167).
[Footnote: Lucretius, de rerum natura libri VI were
printed first about 1473, at Verona in 1486, at Brescia in 1495, at Venice in 1500 and in 1515, and at Florence in 1515. The numbers 165 and 167 noted by Leonardo at
the end of the two passages seem to indicate pages,
but if so, none of the editions just mentioned can
here be meant, nor do these numbers refer to the
verses in the poems of Lucretius.]
Tr. 2]
1493.
Ammianus Marcellinus asserts that seven
hundred thousand volumes of books were
burnt in the siege of Alexandria in the time
of Julius Cesar.
[Footnote: Ammiani Marcellini historiarum libri qui
extant XIII, published at Rome in 1474.]
Tr. 2]
W. XXIII.]
1494.
Mondino says that the muscles which
raise the toes are in the outward side of
the thigh, and he adds that there are no
muscles in the back [upper side] of the feet,
because nature desired to make them light, so
as to move with ease; and if they had been
fleshy they would be heavier; and here
experience shows ...
[Footnote: "Mundini anatomia. Mundinus, Anothomia (sic).
Mundini praestantissimorum doctorum almi studit ticiensis
(sic) cura diligentissime emendata. Impressa Papiae per magistrum Antonium de Carfano 1478," in-fol.; ristampata:
"Bononiae Johan. de Noerdlingen, 1482," in-fol.; "Padova
per Mattheum Cerdonis de Vuindischgretz, 1484," in-40;
"Lipsia, 1493," in-40; "Venezia, 1494," in-40 e ivi
"1498,"
con fig. Queste figure per altro non sono, come si e
preteso, le prime che fossero introdotte in un trattato di Notamia. Nel 'fasciculus Medicinae' di Giovanni Ketham,
che riproduce F'Anatomia' del Mundinus, impresso pure a
Venezia da J. e G. de Gregoriis, 1491, in-fol.,
contengosi intagli in legno (si vogliono disegnati non gia incisi da
Andrea Mantegna) di grande dimensione, e che furono
piu volte riprodotti negli anni successivi. Quest' edizione
del "fasciculus" del 1491, sta fra nostri libri e potrebbe
benissimo essere il volume d'Anatomia notato da Leonardo.
(G. D'A.)]
G. 8a]
1495.
Of the error of those who practice without knowledge;--[Footnote 3:**where is it?**]
See first the 'Ars poetica' of Horace [Footnote 5: **where is it?**].
[Footnote: A 3--5 are written on the margin at the side
of the title line of the text given, entire as No. 19
1496.
The heirs of Maestro Giovanni Ghiringallo
have the works of Pelacano.
1497.
The catapult, as we are told by Nonius
and Pliny, is a machine devised by those &c.
[Footnote: _Plinius_, see No. 946.]
1498.
I have found in a history of the Spaniards
that in their wars with the English Archimedes
of Syracuse who at that time was living
at the court of Ecliderides, King of the
Cirodastri. And in maritime warfare he ordered that
the ships should have tall masts, and that on
their tops there should be a spar fixed [Footnote 6: Compare No. 1115.] of
40 feet long and one third of a foot thick. At
one end of this was a small grappling iron and
at the other a counterpoise; and there was also
attached 12 feet of chain; and, at the end of
this chain, as much rope as would reach from
the chain to the base of the top, where it was
fixed with a small rope; from this base it ran
down to the bottom of the mast where a
very strong spar was attached and to this
was fastened the end of the rope. But to go on
to the use of his machine; I say that below
this grappling iron was a fire [Footnote 14: Compare No. 1128.] which, with
tremendous noise, threw down its rays and
a shower of burning pitch; which, pouring
down on the [enemy's] top, compelled the
men who were in it to abandon the top
to which the grappling-iron had clung. This
was hooked on to the edges of the top
and then suddenly the cord attached at the
base of the top to support the cord which
went from the grappling iron, was cut, giving
way and drawing in the enemy's ship; and
if the anchor--was cast ...
[Footnote: Archimedes never visited Spain, and the
names here mentioned cannot be explained. Leonardo
seems to quote here from a book, perhaps by some
questionable mediaeval writer. Prof. C. Justi writes to
me from Madrid, that Spanish savants have no knowledge
of the sources from which this story may have
been derived.]
Leic. 14b
1499.
Theophrastus on the ebb and flow of the
tide, and of eddies, and on water.
[Footnote: The Greek philosophers had no opportunity
to study the phenomenon of the ebb and flow of
the tide and none of them wrote about it. The
movement of the waters in the Euripus however was to
a few of them a puzzling problem.]
Ash. II. IIb]
1500.
Tryphon of Alexandria, who spent his life
at Apollonia, a city of Albania (163).
[Footnote: Tryphon of Alexandria, a Greek Grammarian
of the time of Augustus. His treatise *TtaOY Aeijecu* appeared first at Milan in 1476, in Constantin
Laskaris's Greek Grammar.]
K.3 29b]
1501.
Messer Vincenzio Aliprando, who lives
near the Inn of the Bear, has Giacomo
Andrea's Vitruvius.
L. 53b]
1502.
Vitruvius says that small models are of
no avail for ascertaining the effects of large
ones; and I here propose to prove that
this conclusion is a false one. And chiefly
by bringing forward the very same argument
which led him to this conclusion; that is, by
an experiment with an auger. For he proves
that if a man, by a certain exertion of
strength, makes a hole of a given diameter,
and afterwards another hole of double the
diameter, this cannot be made with only
double the exertion of the man's strength,
but needs much more. To this it may very
well be answered that an auger
L. 53a]
1503.
of double the diameter cannot be
moved by double the exertion, be-
cause the superficies of a body of
the same form but twice as large has
four times the extent of the superficies
of the smaller, as is shown in the two
figures a and n.
Section title: Notes on books and authors
* There are characters present in the original footnotes that have accents - I have placed an asterisk next to them.
1504.
OF SQUARING THE CIRCLE, AND WHO IT WAS
THAT FIRST DISCOVERED IT BY ACCIDENT.
Vitruvius, measuring miles by means of
the repeated revolutions of the wheels which
move vehicles, extended over many Stadia
the lines of the circumferences of the circles
of these wheels. He became aware of them
by the animals that moved the vehicles. But
he did not discern that this was a means of
finding a square equal to a circle. This was
first done by Archimedes of Syracuse, who
by multiplying the second diameter of a circle
by half its circumference produced a rectangular
quadrilateral equal figure to the circle.
[Footnote: Vitruvius, see also Nos. 1113 and 343.
10. Compare No. 1475.]
1505.
Virgil says that a blank shield is devoid of
merit because among the people of Athens the
true recognition confirmed by testimonies ...
[Footnote: The end of the text cannot be deciphered.]
1506.
In Vitolone there are 805 conclusions
[problems] in perspective.
[Footnote: _(Witelo, Vitellion, Vitellon) Vitellione. *E da
vedersi su questo ottico prospettico del secolo XIII Luca
Pacioli, Paolo Lomazzo, Leonardo da Vinci, ecc. e fra i
moderni il Graesse, il Libri, il Brunet, e le Memorie
pubblicate dal principe Boncompagni, e 'Sur l' orthographe
du nom et sur la patrie de Witelo (Vitellion) note de
Maximilien Curtze, professeur *a Thorn', ove sono descritti
i molti codici esistenti nelle biblioteche d' Europa. Bernardino
Baldi nelle sue 'Vite de'matematici', manoscritto presso
il principe Boncompagni, ha una biografia del Vitellione.
Questo scritto del Baldi reca la data 25 agosto 1588.
Discorsero poi di lui Federigo Risnerio e Giovanni di Monteregio
nella prefazione dell' Alfagrano, Giovanni Boteone,
Girolamo Cardano, 'De subtilitate', che nota gli errori di
Vitellione. Visse, secondo il Baldi, intorno all' anno 1269,
ma secondo il Reinoldo fioriva nel 1299, avendo dedicata
la sua opera ad un frate Guglielmo di Monteca, che visse
di que' tempi.
Intorno ad un manoscritto dell' ottica di Vitellione, citato
da Luca Pacioli v' ha un secondo esemplare del Kurlz,
con aggiunte del principe Boncompagni, e le illustrazioni
del cav. Enrico Narducci. Nel 'Catalogo di manoscritti'
posseduti da D. Baldassare de' principi Boncompagni, compilato
da esso Narducci, Roma, 1862, sotto al n. 358,
troviamo citato: Vitellio, 'Perspectiva', manoscritto del secolo
XIV. La 'Prospettiva di Vitelleone' (sic) Thuringo-poloni
*e citata due volte da Paolo Lomazzo nel Trattato dell' arte
della pittura. Vitellio o Vitello o Witelo. Il suo libro
fu impresso in foglio a Norimberga nel 1535; la secondo
edizione *e del 1551, sempre di Norimberga, ed una terza
di Basilea, 1572._ (See _Indagini Storiche ... sulla Libreria--Visconteo--Sforzesca del Castello di Pavia ... per
cura di G. D'A., Milano 1879. P. I. Appendice p. 113. 114).]
1507.
Vitolone, at Saint Mark's.
[Footnote: _Altro codice di cotesta 'Prospettiva' del Vitolone
troviamo notato nel 'Canone bibliographico di Nicol*o V',
conservato alla, Magliabecchiana, in copia dell' originale
verosimilmente inviato dal Parentucelli a Cosimo de' Medici
(Magliab. cod. segn. 1 VII, 30 carte da 193 a 198).
Proviene dal Convento di San Marco e lo aveva trascritto
frate Leonardo Scruberti fiorentino, dell' ordine dei
predicatori che fu anche bibliotecario della Medicea pubblica
in San Marco_ (See _Indagini Storiche ... per cura
di G. D'A. Parte I, p. 97).]
K.2 12b}
1508.
How this proposition of Xenophon is false.
If you take away unequal quantities from
unequal quantities, but in the same
proportion, &c.
[Footnote: Xenophon's works were published several
times during Leonardo's lifetime.]
B. 4a]
Inventories
and accounts
(1509-1545).
1509.
On the 28th day of April I received from
the Marchesino 103 lire and 12 dinari.
[Footnote: Instead of the indication of the year there
is a blank space after d'aprile.--Marchesino Stange
was one of Lodovico il Moro's officials.--Campare
No. 1388.]
Ash. I. Ia]
1510.
On the ioth day of July 1492 in 135
Rhenish florins 1. 445
in dinari of 6 soldi 1. 112 S 16
in dinari of 5 1/2 soldi 1. 29 S 13
9 in gold and 3 scudi _l.__53________
1. 8II in all
S.K.M.III. 47a]
1511.
On the first day of February, lire 1200.
S.K.M.III. 47a]
1512.
The hall towards the court is 126 paces
long and 27 braccia wide.
1513
The narrow cornice above the hall lire 30.
The cornice beneath that, being one for
each picture, lire 7, and for the cost of blue,
gold, white, plaster, indigo and glue 3 lire;
time 3 days.
The pictures below these mouldings with
their pilasters, 12 lire each.
I calculate the cost for smalt, blue and
gold and other colours at 1 1/2 lire.
The days I calculate at 3, for the invention
of the composition, pilasters and other
things.
1514.
Item for each vault 7 lire
outlay for blue and gold 3 1/2
time, 4 days
for the windows 1 1/2
The cornice below the windows 16 soldi
per braccio
item for 24 pictures of Roman history
14 lire each
The philosophers 10 lire
the pilasters, one ounce of blue 10 soldi
for gold 15 soldi
Total 2 and 1/2 lire.
1515.
The cornice above lire 30
The cornice below lire 7
The compositions, one with another lire 13
1516.
Salai, 6 lire... 4 soldi... 10 soldi for
a chain;--
On the l4th of March I had 13 lire S. 4;
16 lire remain.
1517.
How many braccia high is the level of
the walls?--
123 braccia
How large is the hall?
How large is the garland?
30 ducats.
On the 29th day of January, 1494
cloth for hose lire 4 S 3
lining S 16
making S 8
to Salai S 3
a jasper ring S 13
a sparkling stone S 11
to Caterina S 10
to Caterina S 10
H.2 33a]
1518.
The wheel lire 7
the tire lire 10
the shield lire 4
the cushion lire 8
the ends of the axle-tree lire 2
bed and frame lire 30
conduit lire 10
S.K.M.II.2 4a]
1519.
Parsley 10 parts
mint 1 part
thyme 1 part
Vinegar ... and a little salt two pieces
of canvas for Salai.
[Footnote: This note, of about the year 1494, is the
earliest
mention of Salai, and the last is of the year
1513 (see No. 1465, 3). From the various notes in
the MSS. he seems to have been Leonardo's assistant
and keeper only, and scarcely himself a painter. At
any rate no signed or otherwise authenticated picture
by him is known to exist. Vasari speaks somewhat doubtfully on this point.]
S.K.M. II.I o"]
1520.
On Tuesday I bought wine for morning [drinking];
on Friday the 4th day of September the same.
[Footnote: This note enables us to fix the date of the
Manuscript, in which it is to be found. In 1495 the
4th of September fell on a Friday; the contents
of the Manuscript do not permit us to assign it to
a much earlier or later date (Compare No. 1522,
and Note).]
S.K.M. II.I 94b]
1521.
The cistern ... at
the Hospital,--2 ducats,--beans,-white
maize,--red maize,--millet,--buckwheat,
--kidney beans,--beans,--peas.
S.K.M. II.I 95a]
1522.
EXPENSES OF THE INTERMENT OF CATERINA.
For the 3 Ibs of tapers 27 S
For the bier 8 S
A pall over the bier 12 S
For bearing and placing the cross 4 S
For bearing the body 8 S
For 4 priests and 4 clerks 20 S
Bell, book and sponge 2 S
For the gravediggers 16 S
To the senior 8 S
For a license from the authorities__ 1 S
106 S
The doctor 2 S
Sugar and candles __ 12 S
120 S
[Footnote: See Nos. 1384 and 1517.]
1523.
Salai's cloak, the 4th of April 1497.
4 braccia of silver cloth l. 15 S 4
green velvet to trim it l. 9 S --
binding l.-- S 9
loops l.-- S 12
the making l. 1 S 5
binding for the front l.-- S 5
stitching _________
here are 13 grossoni of his l. 26 S 5
Salai stole the soldi.
1524.
On Monday I bought 4 braccia of cloth
lire 13 S 14 1/2 on the 17th of, October 1497.
1525.
Memorandum. That on the 8th day of
April 1503, I, Leonardo da Vinci, lent to
Vante, miniature painter 4 gold ducats, in
gold. Salai carried them to him and gave
them into his own hand, and he said he would
repay within the space of 40 days.
Memorandum. That on the same day I
paid to Salai 3 gold ducats which he said
he wanted for a pair of rose-coloured
hose with their trimming; and there remain
9 ducats due to him-excepting that he owes
me 20 ducats, that is 17 I lent him at Milan,
and 3 at Venice.
Memorandum. That I gave Salai 21 braccia
of cloth to make a shirt, at io soldi
the braccio, which I gave him on the
20th day of April 1503.
[Footnote: With regard to Vante or Attavante, the miniature
painter (not Nanni as I formerly deciphered
this name, which is difficult to read; see _Zeitschrift
fur Bild. Kunst_, 1879, p. 155), and Vasari, Lives of Frate
Giovanni da Fiesole, of Bartolommeo della Gatta,
and of Gherardo, _miniatore._ He, like Leonardo, was
one of the committee of artists who, in 1503, considered
the erection and placing of Michel Angelo's David.
The date of his death is not known; he was of the
same age as Leonardo. Further details will be found
in '_Notizie di Attavante miniatore, e di alcuni suoi lavori_'
(Milanese's ed. of Vasari, III, 231-235).]
1526.
On the morning of San Peter's day,
June 29th, 1504, I took io ducats, of which
I gave one to Tommaso my servant to
spend.
On Monday morning 1 florin to Salai to
spend on the house.
On Thursday I took 1 florin for my own
spending.
Wednesday evening 1 florin to Tommaso,
before supper.
Saturday morning 1 florin to Tommaso.
Monday morning 1 florin less 10 soldi.
Thursday to Salai i florin less 10 soldi.
For a jerkin, 1 florin.
For a jerkin
And a cap
2 florins.
To the hosier, 1 florin.
To Salai, 1 florin.
Friday morning, the 19th of July, 1 florin,
less 6 soldi. I have 7 fl. left, and 22 in the box.
Tuesday, the 23th day of July, 1 florin to
Tommaso.
Monday morning, to Tommaso 1 florin.
[Wednesday morning 1 fl. to Tommaso.]
Thursday morning the 1st day of August
1 fl. to Tommaso.
Sunday, the 4th of August, 1 florin.
Friday, the pth day of August 1504, I
took 10 ducats out of the box.
1527.
1504.
On the 9th day of August, 1504, I took
10 florins in gold[*2] .... [*3] on Friday the
9th day of August fifteen grossoni that is
fl. 5 S 5 .... given to me 1 florin in gold
on the l2th day of August [*4] ..... on the
14th of August, 32 grossoni to Tommaso. On
the l8th of the same 5 grossoni to Salai.
On the 8th of September 6 grossoni to the
workman to spend; that is on the day of
our Lady's birth. On the 16th day of September
I gave 4 grossoni to Tommaso: on
a Sunday.
[Footnote: In the original, the passage given as No. 1463
is written between lines 2 and 3 of this text, and
it is possible that the entries in lines 3 and 4 refer
to the payments of Jacopo Tedesco, who is there
mentioned. The first words of these lines are very
illegible.
*7. _Al fattore._ Il Fattore, was, as is well known,
the nick-name of Giovanni Franceso Penni, born in
Florence in 1486, and subsequently a pupil of Raphael's.
According to Vasari he was known by it
even as a boy. Whether he is spoken of in this
passage, or whether the word Fattore should be translated
literally, I will not undertake to decide. The
latter seems to me more probably right.
Section Title: Inventories and accounts.
1528.
On the day of October, 1508, I had
30 scudi; 13 I lent to Salai to make up his
sister's dowry, and 17 I have left.
1529.
Memorandum of the money I have had
from the King as my salary from July 1508
till April next 1509. First 100 scudi, then
70, then 50, then 20 and then 200 florins at
48 soldi the florin.
[Footnote: Compare No. 1350 and 1561.]
1530.
Saturday the 2nd day of March I had from
Santa Maria Novella 5 gold ducats, leaving
450. Of these I gave 2 the same day to
Salai, who had lent them to me.
[Footnote: See _'Conto corrente di Leonardo da Vinci con
lo Spedale di S. Maria Nuova' [1500 a 1507, 1513--1520]_
published by G. UZIELLI, _Ricerche intorno a Leonardo
da Vinci, Firenze,_ 1872, pp. 164, 165, 218 and 219.
The date here given by Leonardo does not occur in
either of the accounts.]
1531.
Thursday, the eighth day of June, I took
17 grossoni, 18 soldi; on the same Thursday
in the morning I gave to Salai 22 soldi
for the expenses.
1532.
To Salai 4 grossoni, and for one braccio
of velvet, 5 lire, and 1/2; viz. 10 soldi for
loops of silver; Salai 14 soldi for binding,
the making of the cloak 25 soldi.
[Footnote: Compare No. 1523.]
1533.
I gave to Salai 93 lire 6 soldi, of which
I have had 67 lire and there remain 26 lire
6 soldi.
1534.
To Salai S 42
2 dozen of laces S 8
for papers S 3 d 8
a pair of shoes S 14
for velvet S 14
a sword and knife S 21
to the barber S 11
to Paolo for a.... S 20
For having his fortune told S 6
1535.
On Friday morning,
one florin to Salai to
spend; 3 soldi received
bread S.. d
wine S.. d
grapes S.. d
mushrooms S.. d
fruit S.. d
[Footnote 6: Compare Nos. 1545, l. 4 and 5,
with similar entries for horse's fodder.]
bran S.. d
at the barber's S.. d
for shoes S.. d
1536.
On Thursday morning one florin.
1537.
On Saint Ambrose's day from the morning
to Thursday 36 soldi.
1538.
The moneys I have had from Ser Matteo;
first 20 grassoni, then on 13 occasions 3 f.
and then 61 grassoni, then 3, and then 3*3;
46 soldi 12 grossoni.
1539.
For paper S 18
for canvas S 30
for paper S 10 d 19
Total S 73
1540.
20 pounds of German
blue, at one ducat the pound lire 80 S d
60 pounds of white, S..
the pound lire 15 S d
1 1/2 pound at 48 the pound lire 6 S d
2 pounds of cinnabar at S 18
the pound lire 1 S 16 d
6 pounds of green at S 12
the pound lire 3 S 12 d
4 pounds of yellow at S 12
the pound lire 2 S 8 d
1 pound of minium at S 8
the pound lire 0 S 8 d
4 pounds of..... at S 2
the pound lire 0 S 8 d
6 pounds of ochre at S 1
the pound lire 0 S 6 d
black... at S 2 the pound
for 20 lire 2 S 0 d
wax to make the stars
29 pounds at S--the pound lire 0 S 0 d
40 pounds of oil for painting
at 5 soldi the pound lire 10 S 0 d
Altogether lire 120 d 18
without the gold. 18
tin for putting on the gold 120 18
58
1541.
Two large hatchets and one very small
one, 8 brass spoons, 4 tablecloths, 2 towels,
15 small napkins, 2 coarse napkins, 2 coarse
cloths, 2 wrappers, 3 pairs of sheets, 2 pairs
new and 1 old.
1542.
Bed 7 0 S
ring 7 0
crockery 2 5
gardener 1 2
..... 2 8
porters 2 1
glasses 1
fuel 3 6
a lock 1
Section title: Miscellaneous Notes.
1543.
New tin-ware 3 pairs of sheets
6 small bowls, each of 4 breadths,
6 bowls, 2 small sheets,
2 large dishes, 2 tablecloths and J/2,
2 dishes medium size, 16 coarse cloths,
2 small ones 8 shirts,
Old tin-ware 9 napkins,
3 small bowls, 2 hand-towels.
4 bowls,
3 square stones,
2 small bowls,
1 large bowl,
1 platter,
4 candlesticks,
1 small candlestick.
1544.
Hose S 40
straw S 60
wheat S 42
wine S 54
bread S 18
meat S 54
eggs S 5
salad S 3
the Barber S 2 d 6
horses S 1
1545.
Sunday
meat S 10 d
wine S 12 d
bran S 5 d 4
herbs S 10 d
buttermilk S 4 d 4
melon S 3 d
bread S 3 d 1
____________________
Monday S 9 8
____________________
..... S 6 d
wine S 12 d
bran S 9 d 4
buttermilk S 4 d 4
herbs S 8 d
____________________ Tuesday S d
meat S 0 d 8
wine S 12 d
bread S 3 d
meal S 5 d 4
herbs S 8 d
Wednesday __
wine S 5 d
melon S 2 d
meal S 5 d 4
vegetables S 8
Ash.I. 18b]
Notes by
unknown
persons
among the
MSS.
(1546--1565).
1546.
Miseracione divina sacro sancte Romane ecclesie tituli n cardinalis 2wulgariter
nuncupatus venerabili religioso fratri Johanni Mair d'Nustorf 3ordinis praedicatorum provintie
teutonie (?) conventus Wiennensis capellano 4 nostro commensali salutem in dno sempi-
ternam Religione zelus rite ac in [ferite?] 5honestas aliarumque laudabilium probitatis et
virtutum merita quibus apud nos fide 6digno commendationis testimonio Magistri videlicet
ordinis felicis recordacionis Leonardi de 7Mansuetis de Perusio sigillo suo ... us dans
tibi ad ... opera virtutum comen(salem)? 8 locum et tempus success(ores) cujus simi-
liter officium ministratus qui praedecessoris sui donum (?) 9confirmavit et de novo dedit
aliorumque plurima [laudatis] qui opera tua laudant 10nos inducunt ut tibi (?) reddamus
ad gratiam liberalem hinc est quod nos cupientes.
[Footnote: The meaning of this document, which is
very difficult to decipher, and is written in
unintelligible
Latin, is, that Leonardo di Mansuetis recommends
the Rev. Mair of Nusdorf, chaplain at Vienna,
to some third person; and says also that something,
which had to be proved, has been proved. The rest
of the passages on the same leaf are undoubtedly
in Leonardo's hand. (Nos. 483, 661, 519, 578, 392,
582, 887 and 894.)]
W. XIIb]
1547.
Johannes Antonius di Johannes Ambro-
sius de Bolate. He who lets time pass and
does not grow in virtue, the more I think
of it the more I grieve. No man has it in
him to be virtuous who will give up honour
for gain. Good fortune is valueless to him
who knows not toil. The man becomes
happy who follows Christ. There is no perfect
gift without great suffering. Our glories
and our triumphs pass away. Foul lust, and
dreams, and luxury, and sloth have banished
every virtue from the world; so that our
Nature, wandering and perplexed, has almost
lost the old and better track. Henceforth it
were well to rouse thyself from sleep. The
master said that lying in down will not bring
thee to Fame; nor staying beneath the quilts.
He who, without Fame, burns his life to waste,
leaves no more vestige of himself on earth than
wind-blown smoke, or the foam upon the sea.
[Footnote: From the last sentence we may infer that
this text is by the hand of a pupil of Leonardo's.--
On the same sheet are the notes Nos.1175 and 715
in Leonardo's own handwriting.]
Section Title: Miscellaneous notes.
1548.
On the morning of Santo Zanobio the
29th of May 1504, I had from Lionardo Vinci
15 gold ducats and began to spend them.
to Mona Margarita S 62 d 4
to remake the ring S 19 d 8
clothes S 13
good beef S 4
eggs S 6
debt at the bank S 7
velvet S 12
wine S 6 d 4
meat S 4
mulberries S 2 d 4
mushrooms S 3 d 4
salad S 1
fruit S 1 d 4
candles S 3
.... S 1
flour S 2
_____________________________
Sunday 198 8
_____________________________
bread S 6
wine S 9 d 4
meat S 7
soup S 2
fruit S 3 d 4
candles S 3 d
____________________________
Monday 31
____________________________
bread S 6 d 4
meat S 10 d 8
wine S 9 d 4
fruit S 4
soup S 1 d 8
____________________________
32
1549.
Tuesday
_________________
bread S 6
meat S 11
wine S 7
fruit S 9
soup S 2
salad S 1
*[Footnote for 1548 and 1549. On the same sheet is the text No. 1015 in Leonardo's own handwriting.]
Section title: Notes by unknown hands.
1550.
To Monna Margarita S 5
to Tomaso S 14
to Monna Margarita d 5 S 2
on the day of San Zanobi
left..... after
payment d 13 S 2 d 4
of Monna Margarita
__________________
altogether d 14 S 5 d 4
1551.
On Monday, the l3th of February, I lent
lire S 7 to Lionardo to spend, Friday d 7.
[Footnote: This note is followed by an account very like the one given as No. 1549.]
1552.
Stephano Chigi, Canonico....., servant
of the honorable Count Grimani at S.
Apostoli.
[Footnote: Compare No. 674, 21--23.]
1553.
Having become anxious.......... Bernardo
di Simone, Silvestro di Stefano, Bernardo
di Jacopo, Francesco di Matteo Bonciani,
Antonio di Giovanni Ruberti, Antonio
da Pistoia.... Antonio; He who has time
and waits for time, will lose his friends and
his money.
1554.
Reverend Maestro, Domino Giovanni, I
spoke to Maestro Zacaria as a brother about
this business, and I made him satisfied with
the arrangement that I had wished; that is,
as regards the commission that I had from
the parties and I say that between us there
is no need to pay money down, as regard
the pictures of the ...
C.A. 75a; 220a]
1555.
Of things seen through a mist that which
is nearest its farthest limit will be least visible,
and all the more so as they are more remote.
Cod.A. 77;b 225b]
1556.
Theodoricus Rex Semper Augustus.
C.A. 94b; 271b]
1557.
Either you say Hesperia alone, and it will
mean Italy, or you add ultima, and it will
mean Spain. Umbria, part of Tuscany.
[Footnote: AMORETTI, Mem. Stor. XXIV, quotes the first
three lines of this letter as by Leonardo. The
cha-
racter of the writing however does not favour this
hypothesis, and still less the contents. I should
regard it rather a rough draft of a letter by young
Melzi. I have not succeeded in deciphering
completely
the 13 lines of this text. Amoretti reads at
the beginning Canonica di Vaprio, but Vaprio seems
to me a very doubtful reading.]
[Footnote: The notes in Greek, Nos. 1557, 1558 and
1562 stand in close connection with each other, but
the meaning of some words is very doubtful, and a
translation is thus rendered impossible.]
C.A. 121b; 376b]
1558.
**IlavTcov avTKX[AcpXt(uv Suo soostai smataupovTou; 2irptoo[Aiaaai w avepu>uo? 'Ae7]vac ToT?
Qs.oi<; 8sj(o[j-ai.**
[Footnote: The notes in Greek, Nos. 1557, 1558 and
1562 stand in close connection with each other, but
the meaning of some words is very doubtful, and a
translation is thus rendered impossible.]
C.A.130a; 397a]
1559.
Canonica of ... on the 5th of July 1507;
my dearly beloved mother, sisters and cousin
I herewith inform you that thanks to God
I am ... about the sword which I
... bring it to Maso at the piazza ...
and I will settle the business of Piero so
that ...
C.A. 164b; 490b]
1560.
Ut bene respondet Naturae ars docta! dedisset
Vincius, ut tribuit cetera sic animam
Noluit ut similis magis haec foret: altera sic est:
Possidet illius Maurus amans animam.
[Footnote 1560: These three epigrams on the portrait of
Lucrezia Crivelli, a picture by Leonardo which must
have been lost at a very early date, seem to have
been dedicated to Leonardo by the poet. Leonardo
used the reverse of the sheet for notes on geometry.]
[Footnote: The notes in Greek, Nos. 1557, 1558 and
1562 stand in close connection with each other, but
the meaning of some words is very doubtful, and a
translation is thus rendered impossible.]
Hujus quam cernis nomen Lucretia, Divi
Omnia cui larga contribuere manu.
Rara huic forma data est; pinxit Leonardos, amavit
Maurus, pictorum primus hic, ille ducum.
Naturam, ac superas hac laesit imagine Divas
Pictor: tantum hominis posse manum haec doluit,
Illae longa dari tam magnae tempera formae,
Quae spatio fuerat deperitura brevi.
1561.
Egidius Romanus on the formation of
the human body in the mother's womb [Footnote 1: _Liber magistri Egidii de pulsibus matrice
conipositus (cum commentario Gentilis de Fulgineo)_ published
in 1484 at Padova, in 1494 and in 1514 at Venice,
and in 1505 at Lyons.].
[Footnote 2:2. This text appears to be in a handwriting different
from that in the note, l. 1. Here the reading is
not so simple as AMORETTI gave it, _Mem. Star. XXV:
A Monsieur Lyonard Peintre du Roy pour Amboyse_. He
says too that this address is of the year 1509, and
Mr. Ravaisson remarks: "_De cette suscription il semble
qu'on peut inferer que Leonard etait alors en France, a
la cour de Louis XII ... Pour conclure je crois qu'il
n'est pas prouve que Leonard de Vinci n'ait pas fait un
voyage de quelques mois en France sous Louis XII, entre
le printemps de 1509 et l'automne de 1510_."--I must
confess that I myself have not succeeded in deciphering
completely this French writing of which two
words remain to me doubtful. But so much seems to
be quite evident that this is not an address of a letter
at all, but a certificate or note. _Amboise_[l. 6] I believe
to be the signature of Charles d'Amboise the
Governor of Milan. If this explanation is the right
one, it can be easily explained by the contents of
Nos. 1350 and 1529. The note, line 1, was perhaps
added later by another hand; and Leonardo himself
wrote afterwards on the same sheet some geometrical
explanations. I must also point out that the
statement that this sheet belongs to the year 1509
has absolutely no foundation in fact. There is no
clue whatever for giving a precise date to this note.]
To Monsieur le Vinci,--the horses of the
king's equerry.... Continue the payment
to Ms. Lyonard, Painter to the King.
[6] Amboise.
1562.
*** [Don't know what to do about these Greek characters]
1563.
Memorandum to Maestro Lionardo to
have ... the state of Florence.
1564.
To remind your Excellency that Ridolfo
Manini brought to Florence a quantity
of crystal besides other stones such as
are ...
1565.
XVIo* C. 6 de Ciuitate Dei, 2*se Antipodes.
[Footnote: A facsimile of this note, which refers to
a well known book by St. Augustin, is given on page 254.]
1566.
Leonardo's
Will.
Be it known to all persons, present and
to come that at the court of our Lord the
King at Amboise before ourselves in person,
Messer Leonardo da Vinci painter
to the King, at present staying at the place
known as Cloux near Amboise, duly considering
the certainty of death and the uncertainty
of its time, has acknowledged and
declared in the said court and before us that
he has made, according to the tenor of these
presents, his testament and the declaration of
his last will, as follows. And first he commends
his soul to our Lord, Almighty God,
and to the Glorious Virgin Mary, and to our
lord Saint Michael, to all the blessed Angels
and Saints male and female in Paradise.
Item. The said Testator desires to be
buried within the church of Saint Florentin
at Amboise, and that his body shall be borne
thither by the chaplains of the church.
Item. That his body may be followed
from the said place to the said church of
Saint Florentin by the _collegium_ of the said
church, that is to say by the rector and the
prior, or by their vicars and chaplains of the
church of Saint Denis of Amboise, also the
lesser friars of the place, and before his body
shall be carried to the said church this Testator
desires, that in the said church of Saint
Florentin three grand masses shall be celebrated
by the deacon and sub-deacon and
that on the day when these three high masses
are celebrated, thirty low masses shall also
be performed at Saint Gregoire.
Item. That in the said church of Saint
Denis similar services shall be performed, as
above.
Item. That the same shall be done in
the church of the said friars and lesser
brethren.
Item. The aforesaid Testator gives and
bequeaths to Messer Francesco da Melzo,
nobleman, of Milan, in remuneration for services
and favours done to him in the past, each
[Footnote: See page 420.]
and all of the books the Testator is at present
possessed of, and the instruments and
portraits appertaining to his art and calling
as a painter.
Item. The same Testator gives and bequeaths
henceforth for ever to Battista de Vilanis
his servant one half, that is the moity, of his
garden which is outside the walls of Milan,
and the other half of the same garden to
Salai his servant; in which garden aforesaid
Salai has built and constructed a house which
shall be and remain henceforth in all perpetuity
the property of the said Salai, his
heirs and successors; and this is in remuneration
for the good and kind services which
the said de Vilanis and Salai, his servants
have done him in past times until now.
Item. The said Testator gives to Maturina
his waiting woman a cloak of good
black cloth lined with fur, a..... of cloth
and two ducats paid once only; and this
likewise is in remuneration for good service
rendered to him in past times by the said
Maturina.
Item. He desires that at his funeral
sixty tapers shall be carried which shall be
borne by sixty poor men, to whom shall be given
money for carrying them; at the discretion
of the said Melzo, and these tapers shall be
distributed among the four above mentioned
churches.
Item. The said Testator gives to each
of the said churches ten lbs. of wax in thick
tapers, which shall be placed in the said
churches to be used on the day when those
said services are celebrated.
Item. That alms shall be given to the
poor of the Hotel-Dieu, to the poor of Saint
Lazare d'Amboise and, to that end, there
shall be given and paid to the treasurers of
that same fraternity the sum and amount of
seventy soldi of Tours.
Item. The said Testator gives and bequeaths
to the said Messer Francesco Melzo,
being present and agreeing, the remainder of
his pension and the sums of money which
are owing to him from the past time till
the day of his death by the receiver or
treasurer-general M. Johan Sapin, and
each and every sum of money that he has
already received from the aforesaid Sapin
of his said pension, and in case he should
die before the said Melzo and not otherwise;
which moneys are at present in the possession
of the said Testator in the said place
called Cloux, as he says. And he likewise
gives and bequeaths to the said Melzo all and
each of his clothes which he at present possesses
at the said place of Cloux, and all in
remuneration for the good and kind services
done by him in past times till now, as well as
in payment for the trouble and annoyance he
may incur with regard to the execution of this
present testament, which however, shall all
be at the expense of the said Testator.
And he orders and desires that the sum
of four hundred scudi del Sole, which he
has deposited in the hands of the treasurer
of Santa Maria Nuova in the city of Florence,
may be given to his brothers now living in Florence
with all the interest and usufruct that
may have accrued up to the present time, and
be due from the aforesaid treasurer to the aforesaid
Testator on account of the said four hundred
crowns, since they were given and consigned
by the Testator to the said treasurers.
Item. He desires and orders that the
said Messer Francesco de Melzo shall be
and remain the sole and only executor of
the said will of the said Testator; and that the
said testament shall be executed in its full and
complete meaning and according to that which
is here narrated and said, to have, hold, keep
and observe, the said Messer Leonardo da Vinci,
constituted Testator, has obliged and obliges by
these presents the said his heirs and successors
with all his goods moveable and immoveable
present and to come, and has renounced and
expressly renounces by these presents all and
each of the things which to that are contrary.
Given at the said place of Cloux in the
presence of Magister Spirito Fieri vicar, of
the church of Saint Denis at Amboise, of
M. Guglielmo Croysant priest and chaplain,
of Magister Cipriane Fulchin, Brother Francesco
de Corion, and of Francesco da Milano,
a brother of the Convent of the Minorites
at Amboise, witnesses summoned and required
to that end by the indictment of the
said court in the presence of the aforesaid
M. Francesco de Melze who accepting and
agreeing to the same has promised by his
faith and his oath which he has administered
to us personally and has sworn to us never
to do nor say nor act in any way to the contrary.
And it is sealed by his request with
the royal seal apposed to legal contracts at
Amboise, and in token of good faith.
Given on the XXIIIrd day of April
MDXVIII, before Easter.
And on the XXIIIrd day of this month of
April MDXVIII, in the presence of M. Guglielmo
Borian, Royal notary in the court
of the bailiwick of Amboise, the aforesaid
M. Leonardo de Vinci gave and bequeathed,
by his last will and testament, as aforesaid,
to the said M. Baptista de Vilanis, being
present and agreeing, the right of water which
the King Louis XII, of pious memory lately
deceased gave to this same de Vinci, the
stream of the canal of Santo Cristoforo in
the duchy of Milan, to belong to the said
Vilanis for ever in such wise and manner
that the said gentleman made him this gift
in the presence of M. Francesco da Melzo,
gentleman, of Milan and in mine.
And on the aforesaid day in the said
month of April in the said year MDXVIII
the same M. Leonardo de Vinci by his last
will and testament gave to the aforesaid
M. Baptista de Vilanis, being present and
agreeing, each and all of the articles of
furniture and utensils of his house at present
at the said place of Cloux, in the event
of the said de Vilanis surviving the aforesaid
M. Leonardo de Vinci, in the presence of
the said M. Francesco Melzo and of me
Notary &c. Borean.