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Leonardo da Vinci (Vinci 1452-Amboise 1519)

Recto: Three studies of Leda, and a rearing horse. Verso: Mortars bombarding a fortress c.1503-4

RCIN 912337

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Recto: three drawings of a naked woman holding a child, two set within framing lines; a horse with a rider, rearing in profile to the left; a measured triangle. Verso: mortars firing into a fortified area, with their trajectories shown; a cursory sketch of a man on horseback; some notes relating to the mortar diagram. Leonardo worked as a military engineer on several occasions, and considered writing a treatise on the subject. This design shows a method of bombarding a besieged fortress.