Bibliography

http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/davinciparachute.html

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/last-supper-leonardo-davinci.htm

http://www.leonardodavincisinventions.com/war-machines/leonardo-da-vincis-tank/

http://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/scuba-gear.aspx

http://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/triple-barrel-canon.aspx

http://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/giant-crossbow.aspx

Giant Crossbow

I have always believed that the fear weapons could have in enemies was just as important as the actual damage from the weapon. This was an important concept in many of my war inventions, one of them being the giant crossbow. This weapon measured twenty-seven yards across, had six wheels, and the bow itself was made of thin wood for flexibility. I designed this weapon to fire large stones and possibly flaming bombs. The soldier would use a mallet to fire the weapon. The idea behind this weapon was to make it look very intimidating to the other people on the battle field.

Triple Barrel Cannon

In battle, mobility is the key to victory. This idea is seen in many of my war inventions like mobile bridges, ladders, and many weapon designs. In my time, canons were generally used at home because they were heavy and difficult and took a lot of time to reload. I designed the triple barrel cannon to solve these problems: a fast and lightweight weapon for the battle field. My invention allowed soldiers to load three shots at once, which helped them shoot more frequently. Because of the lighter weight and large wheels, the gun carriage could be moved to many different areas during battle. #awesomeidea

Diving Suit

While in Venice, the “water city”, I designed scuba gear for sneak attacks on enemy ships from underwater. The leather diving suit was armed with a bag-like mask that went over the diver’s head. Attached to the mask around the nose area were two cane tubes that led to a cork diving bell floating on the surface. The diving tubes allowed the diver to get air to breathe. Also, it included a valve-operated balloon which made it easier for the diver to raise to the surface or sink deeper. Additionally, the suit had a mini pouch for the diver to urinate in. #divingsuit

The Tank

“I can make armored cars, safe and unassailable, which will enter the closed ranks of the enemy with their artillery, and no company of soldiers is so great that it will not break through them. And behind these our infantry will be able to follow quite unharmed and without any opposition.” This is a quote that I said on my letter to Sforza. I designed the tank to be driven onto the battlefield and to slaughter the enemy with its glorious 360 degree cannons. As I usually do, I took inspiration from nature for this design. The outer layer of the tank is based on a turtle’s shell. #letsdothis

The Last Supper

Another one of my famous paintings, The Last Supper, also took me quite some time to complete. This is a masterpiece of the Italian High Renaissance, and it is one of the best known works of Christian art. This painting illustrates the scene of Jesus Christ’s last days which is described in the Gospel of John 13:21. During the time of this supper, Jesus is declaring that one of his twelve apostles will betray him, at it has come to them with shock. This painting is 15 feet by 29 feet and it currently is in the dining hall at the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.

Mona Lisa

After many years of working on this masterpiece, I have finally finished. The Mona Lisa is a painting of a woman named Lisa Gherardini whose husband, Francesco Del Giocondo, requested me to paint a portrait of her. Lisa’s family was very well-known through Tuscany and Florence. Her husband was a very wealthy silk merchant, and they asked me to paint the painting to celebrate their home’s completion and the birth of their second son.