Chapter 1
Leonardo da Vinci's bizarre daily notebooks
Chapter 2
Ludovico Sforza and the spectacles of Milan
Chapter 3
Isabella d'Este and the obsessive collectors
Chapter 4
Pope Leo X and the Roman wonderland
YOUR GOAL
Master of Renaissance oddities and eccentric patrons
Ch 4 · Pope Leo X and the Roman wonderland
misslily Pope Leo X
The elephant is bowing to the Holy Father's hand, While Leonardo's lizard is the wildest in the land!
misslily Pope Leo X nearly bankrupted the Vatican treasury with his lavish lifestyle and artistic patronages.
misslily While living in Rome, Leonardo spent his time boiling herbs and preserving lizards.
Fun Fact
The Pope's pet: Pope Leo X's white elephant, Hanno, was buried in the Vatican courtyard when he died.
Glossary
menagerie (noun)
A collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition. Pope Leo X famously housed a white elephant named Hanno in his private Vatican menagerie.
A collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition. Pope Leo X famously housed a white elephant named Hanno in his private Vatican menagerie.