BBC – Leonardo da Vinci

BBC   Leonardo da Vinci

2.04 GB

S1, Ep1 20 Apr. 2003 The Man Who Wanted to Know Everything

This first episode examines the first half of Leonardo’s life, from his birth near Florence to his famous achievements in the great cities of the Italian Renaissance, Florence and Milan.

S1, Ep2 27 Apr. 2003 Dangerous Liaisons

The year is 1500. Leonardo da Vinci is 48 years old and has been forced to leave Milan – his home for the past 18 years. He travels east, towards Venice, a city under threat of invasion from the Turkish fleet. Leonardo suggests the Venetians implement his idea for an underwater army – men in scuba gear who will attack from underwater. The Venetians remain unconvinced and never put his ideas to the test. 500 years later we take up Leonardo’s designs and, with the aid of diving experts, put them to the test in the Venetian lagoon. Presenter Alan Yentob trails Leonardo …

S1, Ep3 4 May 2003 The Secret Life of the Mona Lisa

This third programme in the series on Leonardo da Vinci begins by stating that the Mona Lisa is the most famous image in the history of art – but how and why has it become so famous? To answer this, we begin by examining the history of painting. Presenter Alan Yentob, travels to the Loire Valley, France, where in 1516 Leonardo entered the court of King Francis I, bringing the Mona Lisa with him. Alan is amazed to discover that the King kept this priceless painting in his bathroom. We follow the journey of this painting as it passes through the possession of the French…