The exhibition, curated by Pietro C. Marani, is part of the cycle of four exhibitions, programmed by the College of Fellows of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana and curated by the leading experts of the Tuscan genius, under the patronage of the National Committee and the Territorial Committee for the celebrations of the 5th centenary since the death of Leonardo da Vinci.
“Leonardo in France – states Pietro C. Marani – focuses on the architectural and hydraulic drawings Leonardo made in France between 1516 and 1518, all traditionally related to the projects of the King of France Francis I for a new royal residence to be built in Romorantin. Here the old castle, inhabited by the king’s mother, Luisa di Savoia, had already been renovated and restored in previous years, but the new royal residence developed in a monumental and urbanistic sense, and Leonardo, in his drawings , seems to be oriented towards the project of two twin palaces, one for the king, the other for the queen Claude of France, surrounded by canals and pavilions. Perhaps Leonardo’s drawings were not used eventually, but the castle of Chambord, built starting from 1519, seems to convey some of Leonardo’s ideas for Romorantin”.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue curated by Pietro C. Marani, which will also include a list of all the other French sheets of the Codex Atlanticus, mostly dedicated to studies of geometry, lunulae and curvilinear stars, with a new study on the types of papers and watermarks.
