File:Leonardo da Vinci, artist, thinker and man of science (1898) (14804386993).jpg

Identifier: leonardodavincia01mn (find matches)
Title: Leonardo da Vinci, artist, thinker and man of science
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Müntz, Eugène, 1845-1902
Subjects: Leonardo, da Vinci, 1452-1519
Publisher: London : W. Heinemann New York : C. Scribner's Sons
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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sons of statewould have made him simulate such a passion. The examples of theMedici had taught him that if he desired the suffrages of his citizens,he must appeal to their taste and their vanity. To epicureans such asthe Italians—and they were epicureans in the higher sense—a liberalityunaccompanied by the encouragement of letters, of science and art,would have failed altogether in its object. No political propagandawas so effectual as the erection of a sumptuous building, the orderingof a statue or a fresco signed by a famous name. The Mecaenas ofthe period, Francesco Sforza for example, may not have believedblindly in the civilising mission of masterpieces ; but the wily diploma- ^ For Lodovicos history before his accession to power the reader is referred toa memoir published in the Archivio storico lovibardo, 1886, p. 737. 2 H. Frangois Delaborde, UExpedition de Charles Vljl. en Italie, p. 217. Study for the Viroin with the Infant /esits (ascribed toLeonardo), (l)kniSH MlSKlM.)
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Printed by Draeger, Paris LODOVICO SFORZA 95 tists had faith—and a faith that was fully justified—in the effectproduced upon the crowd by any act of enlightened magnificence.Lodovico, though his statesmanship was narrow, and although in asense he took no thought for the morrow, never neglected this rule.He never relaxed his efforts to attract from far and near, any one whocould add to his glory ; writers who would sing his praises, artistswho would multiply his portraits. Herein, and herein alone, his instinctsserved him well. If he wanted a model by which to guide himself, Lodovico had butto turn to the most faithful ally of the house of Sforza, to that ardentand enlightened amateur, whose artistic insight was only equalled byhis prodigious activity. After deriving inspiration from him in life,receiving from him counsel after counsel, artist after artist, Lodovicoconceived the daring project of acquiring Lorenzo the Magnificentsmarvellous collections after his death, more especia

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