In 1476 Leonardo da Vinci was accused of homosexuality. Is there a grain of truth in the sensational denunciation? Who was supposed to be his lover?
Genius, this one word is enough to describe the most famous man of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci. A man whose mind hated a vacuum. His constant thirst for knowledge meant that he became a symbol of creativity, love for learning and constantly unsatisfied curiosity. So far, however, no one has managed to answer the question what this man was like in private. Today, however, we have a unique opportunity to learn about Leonardo's secrets thanks to the latest book by bestselling author Christopher Mack The Confession of Leonardo da Vinci (we present an excerpt below).
Homo Leonardus
- Master! - I shout in greeting. This one responds with a subtle hand movement, then adjusts his pink scarf, perfectly matching the tunic in a fairly similar color. As he approaches, I see a fire in his eyes burning at its best.
I will not hide, this view is quite exciting, exciting. All the more so because the Master, as is his custom, when greeting me, kisses me tenderly on the cheek until I am ashamed to admit to myself that I want something more. However, I know that we are meeting today for a completely different matter, though it involves a bit of a kiss.
In Christopher Macht's book, Leonardo talks to his student, Giacomo Caprotti
"My dear Leo," I start to signal that today's topic of conversation will be a bit more intimate. After these words, I can see Leonardo breaking out of his thoughts, so I know one thing - I have his attention. However, it is not known how long the Master will be able to focus on our chat, so I have to start from a thick pipe.
Sexual trauma
- Master, let us forget about our past for a moment in order to try to squeeze the maximum layers of sincerity out of this conversation.
Leonardo, nodding slightly, nods, then the following words come out of his mouth:
- You know very well, Sale, that we are adults. I've always believed to criticize a friend in person, but to praise in front of witnesses. So I'm listening, what would you like to talk about today?
- About relationships. More specifically, about sexual relations.
The text is an excerpt from the latest book by Christopher Macht, Confession by Leonardo da Vinci, which has just been released by Bellona.
"Do you really want some memories or dreams about this to be included in this treatise that you are writing now?" A bold move, I admit.
- Master, this is extremely interesting. Maybe something from memories to start with. Let's talk about the sexual trauma that has been in the Master's head for years.
- I don't know what you're talking about. Besides, we were supposed to forget about our past and what I told you, dear Sale.
Desire must have limits
- Maestro, in a few hundred years the whole world may want to know if the Master was a connoisseur of naked female or male bodies . And either we'll settle it now or people will debate it until the end of the world.
- You want me to declare my sexual preference right now, right?
- To begin with, I would like to recall an event that the Master has hidden deep in his head. The Master has told me about it one, only time . I am well aware that these are painful memories . But the truth is, until the Master shoves it out of his head and talks about it out loud, it will be such a pain.
Leonardo did advanced studies of human bodies
"I didn't think you were that stubborn." But let it be for you.
- Thank you.
- Let's start with the poor man who wants too many things. Simply put, we can't have everything. If you are successful at work For example, if you are successful in creating images, then you can't expect it to be the same in all areas , for example in sexual matters. Desire must have limits . And that's what it is with me.
Sensational denunciation
- Beautiful meditations, as befits a philosopher. However, I would like to move to 1476. Then the Master was twenty-four.
- That's right.
- Then an anonymous denunciation appears, accusing the Master of homosexuality, which is, after all, forbidden. What are the ramifications of this?
- Do you really want to talk about it?
- And why should we skip this topic?
- You know that this case still hurts me a lot, although it's been a long time since then .
- Maestro, the measure of a person's greatness is the number of topics he doesn't want to talk about. The fewer there are, the greater the size of a man. Master used to stick it to my head.
- My you stubborn! However, I was right when I once said you were a descendant of the devil. You know best when to quote my words so that they hurt me. But you are right, I cannot avoid this topic, although it still gives me unpleasant reactions.
Italian moral police
- I understand, but let's go back to 1476.
- Okay, although you should know that I do it with a great pain in my heart. Let's start with the fact that there was an institution in Florence called Ufficiali di notte e conservatori dell'onesta dei monasteri . They were such officers of the night and monasteries, that could be translated . It was an institution where anyone could complain, report denunciations, also anonymous . For this, it was enough to go to the Palazzo Vecchio, which was the seat of the Florentine authorities . There was a special chest in front of the palace, called "tamburo", which means "drum".
Is there a grain of truth in the sensational denunciation?
- Who could use it?
- Everyone. It was enough to write anything and throw such an anonymous denunciation into the tambour. And that's what happened in my case . On April 8, 1476, a denunciation appeared in the tambour, accusing me, among others. It read that four people in Florence, including myself, were to be making homosexual love with a 17-year-old boy named Jacopo .
- How did the Master hear about this report?
- A day later, the moral police decided to question all the accused, including me. During the interrogation, I was asked many intimate questions. It was downright derogatory to me. These were questions that entered the most intimate sphere of a human being. And while I don't mind exploring the human body, it was beneath my dignity to tell the sex police about sex.
The Leonard judgment
- Maestro's father was a notary and most of the family are powerful lawyers. Nobody could help?
- Everyone turned away from me . My father was furious because he thought I had tarnished his good name by my misdemeanor. . He didn't want to see me. I wrote letters to the whole family but no one extended a helping hand . I was completely powerless. I stopped believing in people and in this
that you can trust someone.
- What was the final verdict?
- After being questioned by the vice police, it was decided to postpone the case for two months . I do not hide, it was a very hard time for me. Every day I walked with my soul on my shoulder. Everywhere I was treated like a leper . The awaited moment has finally come. That's when I found out that the case had been dropped. So much waiting in uncertainty.
Some people see homosexual themes in Leonardo's works
- Did the accusations have any basis?
- Has no one told you yet that you can't be nosy?
- But Master ... I'm just asking.
- And I, dear Sale, only reply. Another question please.
A permanent stigma
- So the answer threads?
- Yes. You must know that those events had a lasting impact on my thinking about sex . From then on, my view of sex was completely different.
- You mean?
- I began to associate the genitals with something almost hideous. Believe me, you wouldn't want to know how I felt when I had to write down all the details about my testicles and penis to the vice police. It was something so disgusting that even now, when I think about it, everything twists inside me. Drama!
- So what was between us ...
- Enough! We will not discuss these topics anymore.
Source:
The text is an excerpt from the latest book by Christopher Makt The Confession of Leonardo da Vinci , which has just been released by Bellona.