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1482-1499
At the court of Ludovico il Moro
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The Sala delle Asse
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In 1498 Leonardo decorated the north-east room of the
Sforza Castle with a painting depicting clusters of rock
out of which grow eighteen huge trees. The branches of
the trees rise from the walls to form a broad canopy,
leaving only some patches of sky visible. A rope of
golden knots intertwines with the foliage, the
composition culminating in the centre of the vaulted
ceiling where the Sforza ducal coat-of-arms appears. The
naturalistic design has been seen by some as a symbolic
depiction of the valley of Tempe, locus amoenus of
classical literature.
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Leonardo da Vinci
Ceiling decoration
1496-98
Fresco and tempera
Sala delle Asse, Castello Sforzesco, Milan
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Sforza Bearings on the Ceiling in an Arabesque of
Black Mulberry Branches.
The mulberry (a symbol of
prudence and wisdom) is a metaphor for the
government of Ludovico, depicted here in a jagged,
unrepeating geometrical pattern.
The mulberry also
alludes to the power of il Moro.
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Leonardo da Vinci
Ceiling decoration
1496-98
Fresco and tempera
Sala delle Asse, Castello Sforzesco, Milan
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Plinth with Rocks and Roots, North Wall.
Revealed with the rest of the decoration after the
restoration (1893-94), these monochrome images were spared
the repaintings of 1901-02. Concealed by wooden boards until
1954, they offer a glimpse of the continually conflicting
forces of nature.
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Engraving from the Vincian Academy, c.1495,
Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan.
The knots, an
emblem of Leonardo himself,
are in keeping with
the decoration of the room.
The Sala delle Asse
was possibly intended as a meeting place for
cultural events.
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The Durer version is an important
document of Renaissance graphic art.
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