If you were born into a stuggling but highly intelligent and articulate family in north Tuscany and you find warring factions all around you, you learn to adapt. Who are you? I am Leonardo. And where are you from . I am recently of the nearby town down through those rolling hills over there. Yes, I have visited, very lovely. What is the name of your town? da Vinci. I see. And what do you to, my fine good man? I am learning many things, sir. Mostly now I paint. I see. And do you paint well? Some say so. Fine, that is good.



It is important to have a craft that you can do, even to fall back on. Yes sir. Do you have a patron. No yet sir. I hear the Medici family are looking for a young person with gifts. They are very wealthy, as you must surely know. I have heard, sir. Yes it is so. And they are very powerful. Mean, cruel, relly. Beasts, really. And now that Lorenzo, he is to be made Pope! Suich a mockery. Do you know he befouled his sweet eice, and they all blame her for her cruelty. What you learn, you live. Never forget that. I will not sir.

So young ma, I will bid you adeui. My name is Michaelango and I now work in Rome. You may have heard of me. Oh my goodness yes my lord. None of that, my son, none of that. I hope we shall meet again soon. I have a daughter and a neice I would like you to meet. You have very fine bone structure. Delicate, too much, perhaps, but I did indeed admire good bone structure. Do you under the insides of the body much. Not yet sir, I plan to learn. Sir, you can only really rech into th heart and soul of that person who you wish to represent.

As for myself, I may take many years even before I accept the commission, I may watch the young lady, in this recent case, her eye movements are very important. You must allow the creation of the eye in your painting to be in very careful structurl detail. Do you realize you can build the eye out to allow quite a unique experience, the eys of the painting will follow, and they will see the genuis in you. I see that in you.Do you? Not yet sir. It will come, my son, it will come.

And so it came to be that Leonardo of that nearby town moved into the house home and heart of his dear elder patron and now family member, and they remained loyal friends through cruel betrayals all around. The world is full of trickery, one friend day next, changed sides, knife in back just as you sign the agreement. You must remember this, young man. If you must flee to France, you do so. Take along your most magnificent work would be my advice in that event. Your painting could sve your life, and hang in a Paris Museum.

Really sir? Really, Leonardo. We will see you soon,then, perhaps some time soon I hope. Oh yes. Will next week be to soon? Next week will be fine, Leonardo, next week will be fine. And then you may find yourself for your lifetime showing me you not only have a name. But it is just not Leonardo of da Vinci. No. You will stand so great if you master your craft the world will have no need to know any word other than your name. And they will know you speak for dignity, brilliant capacity, the depth of humanity in the gentle stroke of each brush of your pen.

Remember that Leonardo. Yes sir until I die. And so it was.