Pitched Unfairly

Leonardoof Florence

Fig. 6 · The covered chariot

Instruments of war, out of the common type.

Capabilities for Ludovico Sforza · Milan, 1482

The client's need

You have seen every war engineer in Italy. Same machine.

Proposal A
Proposal B
Proposal C
Proposal D

In common use

What we can do

Ten capabilities. Nine of them win wars.

Item 6 of 10 Safe, unassailable, armed. Breaks any body of men. Infantry follows unhurt.

Proof

Battle record: pending. Portfolio: paintings.

ReferenceLorenzo de' Medici, who sent us

  1. 1472 Guild of Saint Luke Master painter, Florence. Qualified at 20.
  2. c. 1472–75 The Baptism of Christ With Verrocchio. We painted the angel.
  3. c. 1474–80 Ginevra de' Benci Portrait. Delivered.
  4. c. 1478–82 Adoration of the Magi Unfinished. Paused to pitch you.

How we work

Every machine is drawn before it is built.

  1. 01 Observe Water, birds, horses, failure.
  2. 02 Draw Every part on paper first, measured.
  3. 03 Model A working model at small scale.
  4. 04 Demonstrate In your park, before you commit.
Measured · Fig. 1

Adjacent services

Painting was the last line. History reranked it.

  1. 15 Portable bridges Item 1Self-supporting bridge models
  2. 29 Siege works and tunnels Items 2, 3, 5Mostly forgotten
  3. 38 Mortars and big guns Items 4, 7Margin sketches
  4. 42 Covered chariots Item 6The famous tank drawing
  5. 53 Catapults Item 8The giant crossbow drawing
  6. 67 Naval machines Item 9A diving suit, later
  7. 76 Architecture and water Item 10Ideal city plans
  8. 84 Sculpture Item 10A horse, cast in 1999
  9. 91 Painting Item 10, last wordsMona Lisa. The Last Supper.

The flagship offer

The largest bronze horse in the world.

1999

StatusCast, at last

BronzeCast

A horse after his design is unveiled in Milan, 517 years after the letter.

The ask

Doubt any of it? Test it in your park.

Demonstration request

Item
06 · Covered chariots
Venue
Your park, or whatever place may please your Excellency
Date
At your pleasure

Leonardo