You're Dead to Me Leonardo da Vinci - Live (Radio Edit)
11 snips
Aug 26, 2023 
In this live episode, Prof Catherine Fletcher and comedian Dara Ó Briain join to discuss Leonardo da Vinci and his life during the Italian Renaissance. They debate whether da Vinci was a genius or an "ideas man" who couldn't finish what he started. Topics include da Vinci's artistic skills, inventions, his fascination with anatomy, and his cautious approach to the church. The episode also includes trivia games and light-hearted banter. The hosts express gratitude and introduce a new podcast series called 'Witch with me'.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Leonardo's Home Zoological Research
- Leonardo brought live reptiles, bats, butterflies and other creatures into his house to study natural forms for art projects like a Medusa shield.
- Catherine Fletcher reads Leonardo's own record of collecting crawling reptiles while apprenticed in Florence, showing hands-on self-education.
The Cover Letter That Pivoted Leonardo To Engineer
- Leonardo sold himself to Ludovico Sforza with a multi-point cover letter offering military engineering, drainage, siegecraft and sculpture rather than primarily painting.
- Greg reads the seven-point pitch showing Leonardo pivoted from artist to practical engineer to secure patronage in Milan.
Notebooks Blur Genius And Scribble
- Leonardo's notebooks contain thousands of pages of mixed notes, experiments and speculative ideas that blur deliberate projects with casual scribbles.
- Catherine warns historians it's hard to tell which notebook ideas were serious plans versus ephemeral thoughts scribbled to self.