Leonardo da Vinci #2

Château Clos Lucé.

"King François the First invited Leonardo da Vinci in the autumn 1516. Da Vinci left Italy and settled at the Clos Lucé bringing his notebooks and manuscripts and three of his major works of art: the Mona Lisa, the Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist."
(bron: Touraine Val de Loire)


Atelier de dessin, château Clos Lucé.


Atelier de peinture, château Clos Lucé. (bron: De Loirestreek, foto's: L. de Serre(?))


Château Clos Lucé at the time of Leonardo.

"King Francis I and Louise de Savoie invite Leonardo da Vinci to Amboise.

King Francis I, passionate by Leonardo da Vinci’s talent, names him “ Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of the King" and offers him the enjoyment of the Château of Clos Lucé, located only a few meters away from the Château d’Amboise. The national archives in Paris own a certificate for payement mentioning the pension from Francis I to Leonardo da Vinci « To Master Lyenard de Vince, Italian painter, the sum of 2000 ecussoleil, for his pension of two years ».

Leonardo spends the last three years of his life at the Château of Clos Lucé and works on several projects for the king of France, surrounded by his students. He welcomes prestigious visitors like the Cardinal of Aragon, great men of the kingdom, Italian ambassadors and fellow artists present in the king’s court, like Domenico da Cortona, known as the Boccador and Chambord’s future architect.

An underground passage between the two castles allowsboth men to meet frequently. Today, only the first meters are still visible.

After a fascinating relationship between Leonardo da Vinci and three French Kings(Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I), the Italian Master passes away on May the 2 nd 1519 in his room at the Château du Clos Lucé."
(bron: Clos Lucé parc Leonardo da Vinci)