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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cDo you remember growing up, and the greatest buildings in the town were the Roman ruins? We were surrounded by an age that was past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow the merchants are travelling further, are having more fortune, and are building great buildings, buildings greater than the Romans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHmm, ok.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOooh, ow my wrist!\u201d the third burst out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo be quiet Gian!\u201d Leonardo exclaimed.
\u201cThis new era is coming Francesco. A new age of measuring and making wonderful things\u201c Leonardo continued. \u201cDid you see the Giotto painting from Florence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell yes. But I don\u2019t get what you see in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNormally 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t get it.\u201d
\u201cGiotto measured, and then painted. The perspective of the road and buildings receded out into the distance in a way that matches what you see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell that\u2019s just a new painting technique.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOooh, owww my wrists!\u201d Gian lamented. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leonardo continued, ignoring the outburst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHmmm,\u201d reflected Francesco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted to communicate it to the world Francesco.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell planning dams and civic works for the princes ain\u2019t gonna do it.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, that\u2019s just the day job Franceco. Something to pay the bills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, think about the Cardinals, Leonardo. They don\u2019t take too kindly to shouting a message of human reason. I\u2019m not talking about God of course, he\u2019s fine with us using our heads. You need something more subtle.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know what you mean Francesco. I have this idea of a work to capture this message, to send it to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big ask Leonardo, to get a work of art to send that message.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNope! Doesn\u2019t work. Too complicated. You need something much simpler.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u201cOh bother! Gian, how are those accounts going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr Leonardo sir, my wrists hurt from all this copying of the canal drawings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell work with your other hand Gian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSay that again Gian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir, I can draw with my left hand, but I have to do the books with my right hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A glint came into Leonardo\u2019s eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGian, I have a new stretch for you, something that will benefit all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStand up, with your feet wide apart. Now stretch out your arms horizontally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you see that Francesco?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Francesco made a rectangle with his fingers, framing the image, and looked for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHmmm. Yes, yes I do Leonardo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut 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. \u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [This is written for my daughter Trinity, and my mother Katrina. I’m painting a background picture of my journey.] \u201cA new age is coming Francesco, \u201d he said as he washed his paint brush.\u00a0 \u201cHow so Leonardo?\u201d Francesco looked nonplussed. … Continue reading <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n