Day 29, Tuesday, September 26, 2023

In 1516 King Francis I invited Leonardo da Vinci to come live and work in Close Lucé. When Leonardo was 64, he crossed the Alps on a mule with some of his pupils and three of his major paintings, the Mona Lisa, the Virgin and the Child, and St. John the Baptist as well as his notes, sketches, and manuscripts.

Leonardo spent the last three years of his life working here.This is Leonardo’s bedroom. I am standing in the room where Leonardo da Vinci slept!
At one time the walls were decorated, but little of it remains.The adjoining room is his studio, where he painted…

…sculpted…

and worked on his drawings and manuscripts.  

It is quite the experience to be in the same place as this amazing man lived and worked.  His studio is furnished in the manner of a 16th Century artist’s workshop, with reproductions of his drawings…

paintings…

and replicas of his books and the little notebooks that he carried in his pocket.

His study contains ancient texts and a cabinet of curiosities.  Leonard had a library of 200 books which was very unusual for an individual in 1516.

An audio visual production in the next room recreates a historical meeting between the Cardinal of Aragon and Leonardo, who shows the Cardinal his paintings.  .https://youtu.be/Ih_uiJSrths

The dining room has a reproduction of the Mona Lisa.  We saw the original in Paris and now we are in Leonardo’s home and studio where it resided until his death in May, 1519.

I didn’t know that Leonardo was a vegetarian. He believed that “sobriety, healthy meals and a proper sleep will keep you in good health.”Downstairs there is a display of 40 of his inventions, recreated from his drawings by IBM.  He was truly a genius. Among his many inventions are life preservers, ballbearings, cam shafts that are used in modern engines, and this screw wrench that is still in use today in plumbing.

He also had ideas for bicycles and cars centuries before they were actually invented.

After our visit of the chateau we find a spot for our lunch near this life size model of his idea for a helicopter.  The school kids loved it and were fun to watch.

We sat under this enormous tree which I like to think was growing when Leonard walked these gardens.  The literature says that there are centuries old pines, cypresses and yews growing here so it is entirely plausible.

There are  forty 3 and 4 meter tall translucent canvases hung throughout the garden.  We love these…

and the many life size models of his inventions.

We saw the original of this painting during a previous trip.  It looks fantastic high in the trees…

along with this model of a flying machine.

Everywhere we look there are beautiful installations showcasing Leonardo’s work, and enhancing the beauty of the gardens.

I’m not so sure that this was enhancing anything!

One of the paths showcases many of Leonardo’s most well known drawings. They are very impressive…

as were these.

I loved this heart growing on the wall of the pigeon house.

This five hundred year old pigeonnier (pigeon house) was built not long before Leonardo arrived.  It held 1,000 pigeons!  Pigeonniers were status symbols, proof of wealth, authority and power. The keeping of pigeons was a right restricted to royalty, the clergy and the nobility.  Peasants were prohibited by law from killing pigeons which attacked their crops. Pigeons were kept for their meat, their eggs and their guano, which was used to fertilize the fields.

There is a new exhibit, The Leonardo da Vinci Painter and Architect Gallery.  17 of his masterpieces and 200 of his drawings are projected in a giant fresco on the walls and ceiling of the gallery.  It is incredible.  I sit through the 15 minute show twice. We are so fortunate to have seen most of these paintings in museums during our travels.  The one we missed is the Last Supper.  We didn’t realize that we needed to book way in advance so we were out of luck.  We do see the Last Supper here, projected with larger than life details and preparatory sketches.  It isn’t the real thing but it was pretty wonderful anyways. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we38niQIB4U

The gardens are beautiful, and have amazing views everywhere we look.

There are lots of bridges that were designed by Leonardo, including this double decker one.

The garden has been planted with many of the same plants that were growing when Leonardo lived here.  He drew the trees and plants in his garden. There are plaques showing his drawings along side of the same plants growing today.

As we leave the gardens we check out the cars that drove in while we were having lunch.  They are all Opels, which I had never heard of but Bob recognized them right away.

I need to walk through the house one more time before we leave.  Leonardo was known to sit here beside this fireplace to keep warm.  This whole visit was quite remarkable.  I was overcome with emotion several times, walking in Leonardo’s home, studio and garden, and standing in the room where he died. It was an amazing day.

Quiet Day

Day 30,  Wednesday, September 27, 2023

AlthoughI really enjoyed yesterday I completely ran out of energy on the drive home, and needed a two hour sleep once we were back in Tours.  Then to bed early and I didn’t wake up until almost noon today, still feeling really tired so just took it easy all day.  No pictures, nothing interesting to write about.