Leonardo

"I've spent my entire life

seeking to get closer to God's truth through beauty,

attempting to map and understand the features of human anatomy

as surely as if they were a mathematical equation."

"I have studied countless faces,

attempting to see notjust how they look,

but who they are."

- Get him! -

"To find in God's truth my own.

I have glimpsed God's beauty in fleeting moments,

and I'm convinced it lives in all.

But I still have not found it in me."

What are you doing?

Reading Leonardo's journals.

He knew the antidote to the poison.

He could have saved Caterina's life.

What more proof do you need?

Perhaps you are afraid, Stefano.

Afraid to be the man who executes the great Leonardo da Vinci.

My fear is executing an innocent man.

And I still lack one of the two witnesses who saw her die.

Not any more.

You were seen breaking into Leonardo's studio.

"Man walks through door." That's certainly a serious crime.

Giacomo. That's your name? We've been looking for you.

I go by lots of names.

Some people call me Salaì. "Little devil."

You worked for Leonardo?

You were there the day that Caterina died.

That makes you my new friend.

I've got a lot of friends.

Always room for one more, Officer.

Did he kill her?

She burned his paintings, so I shouldn't be surprised.

Why did she burn his paintings?

She didn't say.

Then why aren't you surprised?

I learned many things from Leonardo.

But the first thing I learned is that art always comes before people.

You're a fine equestrian, Your Excellency.

Ah, Leonardo.

Tell me about your father.

He's a notary by trade?

Um... Well, yes, Your Excellency. He works in Florence.

But what will he leave behind?

An artist as a son, of course, but...

A man should have a legacy.

Excuse me, My Lord.

My own father's long dead.

I wish to make him immortal.

You wish to commission a painting?

I want to raise a statue to him.

It needs to be heroic. On horseback.

Well, you're an artist, but you're also an engineer.

There's no finer choice.

Come now. You wanted a commission.

You're still unsure of me.

You've witnessed the brutality of court politics firsthand.

But...

you need to work.

I want you to start at once.

I'll fund a studio and apartments.

Start unloading those boxes.

I want to see your designs in seven days.

Be careful with those pigments.

Bring glory to the house of Sforza,

and you'll bring glory to yourself.

I haven't seen you for weeks. You must be wondering why.

Bernardo expects me to behave a certain way.

- You walked away from me. - We have responsibilities.

We're not the same people any more.

Who are you, Leonardo,

if you're not an artist?

It's incredible. Leonardo, your own studio at last.

Isn't it wonderful?

Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa!

Marco! Giulio!

It's so good to see you both.

It's good to see you too. Why did you send for us? What's the job?

It's a major new commission, and he needs his favourite assistants.

He didn't ask for us, did he?

He did.

- - It was your idea, Tommaso.

- No, it wasn't. - It was your idea, Tommaso!

Yes. That one goes there.

And that one there, too.

- Come on. -

Marco and Giulio have arrived.

What's wrong?

There are so many great equestrian statues in other towns.

Verrocchio in Venice, Donatello in Padua. This needs to be better.

Listen, I know this is difficult for you...

after everything that's happened.

But I'm sure you're going to make something spectacular.

Your genius will be recognised at last.

I need to get back to the stables.

What's happening?

I'm leaving Milan. Returning to Venice.

Alone?

Why? Bernardo, talk to me, please.

Leonardo. I saw you with him.

Bernardo, I care for you.

I really do.

You've given me everything. I'm a different person because of you.

You'll never look at me the way you look at him.

We both deserve better.

Goodbye, Caterina.

- -

Bring glory to the house of Sforza

and you'll bring glory to yourself.

Do you want me to order marble from the quarry?

No. I don't want to be confined by the material.

I want to create it from nothing. Fashion it from my own imagination.

Oh, hello.

We will build it in wood and clay, and then cast it in bronze.

But that will make it so much harder.

And we need a forge for that.

Fine. I'll design one.

There are no limits, gentlemen.

It's nice to be back.

Something's wrong.

I think I've chosen the wrong image. Il Moro said it should be heroic.

It should be rearing up. See?

No one's ever done it before.

There's too much burden on the back legs.

It will never support the weight of the bronze.

What about...

an enemy?

Underfoot.

Trampled, here.

Then it would be connected to the ground.

Maestro, we've been working for hours on this.

We need to finish it this week. We'll sleep when we're done.

Oh, Your Excellency.

Good morning.

What are you making? More theatrics?

No.

This will be a statue of your grandfather on horseback.

See?

Well, why doesn't it have a mane? Or a rider?

It will. This is only a maquette.

So, next, we finish it in clay,

and then we make a cast, and then we forge it in bronze.

It sounds very complicated.

Well, all creation is complicated, Your Excellency.

Remember that mechanical bird that delighted you so much?

I saw a real bird hatch from its egg and fly away.

- Oh. - I saw it from my window.

And that only took a moment.

God is fortunate. He can rely on miracles.

We must rely on hessian and clay and wood.

Ah, forgive me, Your Excellency. We-- We must continue here.

You have work to do. Of course. Of course.

Yeah, thank you.

Returned to Venice?

Yes, Your Grace.

And left you all alone?

Yes.

However, I would like to remain at court.

I've grown very attached to Milan.

If it's all right, Your Grace.

You know, women are often condemned to a life lived in the shadows.

Men can elevate us with a word...

And destroy us in a single moment. Yes.

Caterina, I've grown to like you. You are so clever and entertaining.

Thank you.

Your origins are humble, I've always known that,

but you seem more at home here than any of my gentlewomen.

Oh.

Ludovico!

It's necessary for me to ask my husband for his approval.

Yes, of course.

Darling.

The Venetian's mistress...

wants to remain here, with us.

Well, is not the moon surrounded by stars?

Of course you should have someone beautiful to attend you, my love.

Your Grace?

Excuse me.

So, it seems you are approved.

Thank you, Your Grace.

A hundred. Maybe more.

All in open defiance of me?

The attempt on my life has put mischief in men's minds.

Your own courtiers will soon have the power to move against you.

- They say-- - I know what they say!

I'm a caretaker. I've no real claim for the title.

Gian Galeazzo will soon come of age. And he will rule the duchy--

Milan would fall if it were in his hands.

Gian Galeazzo is just a sickly child.