Leonardo Da Vinci part 2 - from Florence to Milan

Leonardo Da Vinci part 2 - from Florence to Milan

Early Life & Education

  • Born illegitimate, Leonardo spent his youth sketching and observing nature.
  • After moving to Florence, he entered the prestigious workshop of Andrea Verrocchio, where he learned not only painting but also the chemistry behind pigments and the mechanics of sculpture and engineering.

🎨 Artistic Breakthroughs

  • By 1472, Leonardo was a member of the painters’ guild and began producing original works.
  • His first known portrait was of Ginevra de’ Benci, and his collaboration on Verrocchio’s Baptism of Christ was so impressive that legend claims the master retired his brush.

⚙️ Engineering Mindset

  • Leonardo’s early involvement in lifting Brunelleschi’s massive dome sphere sparked a lifelong fascination with machines and mechanics.
  • He later designed fantastical inventions, from machine guns and tanksto automated kitchen spits and submarines, many adapted from earlier ideas but improved with Leonardo's obsessive precision.

🕵️ Scandal & Rejection

  • In 1476, Leonardo was accused (and acquitted) of sodomy, a charge that tainted his reputation.
  • He also struggled with feelings of inadequacy due to his illegitimacy and lack of formal education, despite building a massive personal library.

🤹 From Florence to Milan

  • Tired of Florence’s politics and unfinished commissions (like The Adoration of the Magi), Leonardo headed to Milan in 1481.
  • His application letter to Ludovico Sforza emphasized military engineering over painting—positioning himself as the Renaissance’s ultimate multi-hyphenate.

🎭 Court Entertainer & Inventor

  • In Milan, Leonardo served as engineer, party planner, set designer, and even hairstylist.
  • He dabbled in robotics, stage effects, and was inspired by thinkers like Ibn al-Haytham, whose work on optics laid the groundwork for Leonardo’s legendary camera obscura prank.

👂 Tune in to discover how a restless, illegitimate boy turned into one of history’s most enigmatic polymaths—blending art, science, scandal, and a flair for the theatrical.

Avsnitt(284)

133 – catching up with Genoa… again (1310 – 1442)

133 – catching up with Genoa… again (1310 – 1442)

and 15th century Genoa to catch up on all their wars with Venice and the Aragonese as well as all the internal infighting between the various Doria, Spinola, Fieschi, Grimaldi and Campofregaso for which external rulers are constantly called in, the, Anjou, Milan, France, Monferrato, milan again and so on.

22 Feb 202219min

F100: The crystallisation of totalitarianism

F100: The crystallisation of totalitarianism

We take a break from our narrative of the history of Fascism to talk about the definition of Totalitarianism with Jackson Van Uden. Jackson is a Historian, Author and Podcaster. He hosts the History with Jackson YouTube channel and Podcast where he speaks about History from across the ages, and interviews historians about their research. As an author he has written several articles on a variety of different topics and has also recently published a book entitled the ’The Crystallisation of Totalitarianism’.

8 Feb 202237min

132 The end of the Visconti- how to lose a duchy

132 The end of the Visconti- how to lose a duchy

Filippo Maria Visconti, now sole Duke of Milan, has a bit of time to take a breather, before the chaos of the wars of Lombardy vs Venice and Florence, with special guest stars

1 Feb 202225min

131 – Milan, chaos in the duchy (1402 – 1412)

131 – Milan, chaos in the duchy (1402 – 1412)

After the untimely death of the first duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the duchy is thrown into turmoil as the widow, Caterina Visconti attempts to hold onto the realm of her sons, Giovanni Maria and Filippo Maria through internal intrigue and external military pressure from Florence, Venice and many others trying to take advantage of Milan's moment of weakness.

25 Jan 202220min

130 – The father of the father of the nation: the rise of the Medici (1402 – 1428)

130 – The father of the father of the nation: the rise of the Medici (1402 – 1428)

We follow the life and times of Giovanni di Bicci De Medici, shrewd banker and able politician as he navigates the complicated waters of early 15th century Florentine politics as the republic prepares to kick of an age of unprecedented cultural renewal: the Renaissance

13 Jan 202222min

4th anniversary episode

4th anniversary episode

We celebrate our 4th anniversary by announcing a new podcast: The K-Rock Chelsea Hotel; the 1 millionth global listen and a guest episode about 14th century Italy on The History of England podcast.

4 Jan 202254min

Re-release: 129 – Catherine of Siena – Medieval UN ambassador

Re-release: 129 – Catherine of Siena – Medieval UN ambassador

In this episode we follow the last part of the life of St Catherine of Siena as her fame and influence grows to International levels and she deals with princes and popes alike, going through the war of the eight saints, the Ciompi revolt and the Great Western Schism, all the while battling against her own body.

29 Dec 202121min

Happy Whatever episode

Happy Whatever episode

Just to wish you a Merry Christmas, happy Kwanza, Sol Invictus, Saturnalia, to hope you had a good Diwali or Hanukah and in general to wish you a merry whatever this period is for you, even if it's nothing at all.We come bearing audio gifts!AUGURI

25 Dec 202111min

Populärt inom Utbildning

historiepodden-se
rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
det-skaver
bygga-at-idioter
alska-oss
rosceremoni
nu-blir-det-historia
allt-du-velat-veta
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
johannes-hansen-podcast
not-fanny-anymore
roda-vita-rosen
svd-ledarredaktionen
sektledare
nar-man-talar-om-trollen
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
sa-in-i-sjalen
sex-pa-riktigt-med-marika-smith
handen-pa-hjartat
rss-makabert