[This is written for my daughter Trinity, and my mother Katrina. I’m painting a background picture of my journey.]
“A new age is coming Francesco, ” he said as he washed his paint brush.
“How so Leonardo?” Francesco looked nonplussed.
“Do you remember growing up, and the greatest buildings in the town were the Roman ruins? We were surrounded by an age that was past.”
“So what?”
“Now the merchants are travelling further, are having more fortune, and are building great buildings, buildings greater than the Romans.”
“Hmm, ok.”
“Oooh, ow my wrist!” the third burst out.
“Do be quiet Gian!” Leonardo exclaimed.
“This new era is coming Francesco. A new age of measuring and making wonderful things“ Leonardo continued. “Did you see the Giotto painting from Florence?”
“Well yes. But I don’t get what you see in it.”
“Normally when we paint, we paint with gusto and passion, and slam it out on the page. It seems ok, but looking at this new painting it shows we can do better.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Giotto measured, and then painted. The perspective of the road and buildings receded out into the distance in a way that matches what you see.”
“Well that’s just a new painting technique.”
“Oooh, owww my wrists!” Gian lamented.
Leonardo continued, ignoring the outburst.
“This new age, this age of building things, it will be shaped by measurement on one hand and craftsmanship on the other. On one hand human reason, and the other human art.”
“Hmmm,” reflected Francesco.
“I wanted to communicate it to the world Francesco.”
“Well planning dams and civic works for the princes ain’t gonna do it.“
“Oh, that’s just the day job Franceco. Something to pay the bills.”
“Look, think about the Cardinals, Leonardo. They don’t take too kindly to shouting a message of human reason. I’m not talking about God of course, he’s fine with us using our heads. You need something more subtle.”
“I know what you mean Francesco. I have this idea of a work to capture this message, to send it to the world.”
“It’s a big ask Leonardo, to get a work of art to send that message.”
“My idea is a couple, ready to dance, walking down to the ballroom. One is creativity, the other is human reason. Together they will make a wonderful place.”
“Nope! Doesn’t work. Too complicated. You need something much simpler.”
“Oh bother! Gian, how are those accounts going?”
“Mr Leonardo sir, my wrists hurt from all this copying of the canal drawings.”
“Well work with your other hand Gian.”
“Well it’s difficult sir. I find that I can draw with my left hand, but when I do the accounts, that only works with my right hand.”
“Say that again Gian.”
“Sir, I can draw with my left hand, but I have to do the books with my right hand.”
A glint came into Leonardo’s eye.
“Gian, I have a new stretch for you, something that will benefit all.”
“What is it?
“Stand up, with your feet wide apart. Now stretch out your arms horizontally.”
Leonardo touched the thumb to the forefinger of the other hand, and repeated it with his remaining thumb and forefinger to make a rectangle, and looked through it.
“Do you see that Francesco?”
Francesco made a rectangle with his fingers, framing the image, and looked for a moment.
“Hmmm. Yes, yes I do Leonardo.”
“But you must be careful Leonardo. Sometime soon, someone is gong to take this message of human agency and reason, and then get in a lot of trouble with the church. ”