Tuesday, March 25, 2008

DEATH IN AMBOISE


Tomb of Leonardo da Vinci at Saint Hubert Chapel


This picture shows the Leonardo plaque in Amboise.

Leonardo died on 2 May 1519 in Amboise. At this time Leonardo da Vinci was 67 year old. His state of health was not the best, because Leonardo had a paralysis on the right side of his body since 1517 and Vasari told about an illness some weeks before Leonardo died.

On 23 April 1519 Leonardo wrote his last will.

Vasari told the legend that King Francis I. immediatly came to Amboise when he heard about the near end of Leonardo da Vincis life. This painting from Cesare Mussini (1929), which you can admire in the Galleria dell´Academia in Florence, shows this last meeting. It is only a legend, because King Francis I. was on 1 May 1519 in St. Germain en Laye and so he couldn't be in Amboise one day later.

This picture shows the Chapel of St. Hubert which is situated inside the area of the king castle in Amboise. In the chapel is the last resting place of Leonardo da Vinci.

Originally Leonardo was buried in the heart of the king castle in the cloister of San Fiorentino. After destruction of the church and parts of the castle the mortal remains of Leonardo da Vinci were transferred to the Chapel of St. Hubert.