Leonardo Da Vinci and Architecture

Found scattered among his numerous manuscripts, Leonardo's studies on architecture were conceived during an artistic journey of close to fifty years while in the service of the most prestigious patrons. Concerning churches, ephemeral monuments, urban reconstruction, fortifications, palaces and villas, and painted architecture, mostly ideal in nature, they are part of the architectural evolution of the late Quattrocento and early Cinquecento. His drawings assimilate the ideas of the pioneers of Renaissance architecture and focus on particular aspects such as interventions on existing structures, classical orders, staircases and decoration. Leonardo's analysis sheds light on dialogues with Bramante, Francesco di Giorgio, Giuliano da Sangallo, Michelangelo, Baldassare Peruzzi and Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and allows us to better understand whether his contributions were innovative, or singular interpretations of the achievements of his time.