Check out da Vinci's resume! What a neat old document!
In 1482, Leonardo wrote out his capabilities and sent it to
Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan, looking for his next job. This was
before he was famous for the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, inventing
the helicopter, and the Vitruvian Man. It's a great piece of
marketing and shows what an interesting man he was. Enjoy!
Scroll down for the English translation.
"Most Illustrious Lord, Having now sufficiently considered
the specimens of all those who proclaim themselves skilled
contrivers of instruments of war, and that the invention and
operation of the said instruments are nothing different from those
in common use: I shall endeavor, without prejudice to any one else,
to explain myself to your Excellency, showing your Lordship my
secret, and then offering them to your best pleasure and
approbation to work with effect at opportune moments on all those
things which, in part, shall be briefly noted below. 1. I have a
sort of extremely light and strong bridges, adapted to be most
easily carried, and with them you may pursue, and at any time flee
from the enemy; and others, secure and indestructible by fire and
battle, easy and convenient to lift and place. Also methods of
burning and destroying those of the enemy. 2. I know
how, when a place is besieged, to take the water out of the
trenches, and make endless variety of bridges, and covered ways and
ladders, and other machines pertaining to such expeditions.
3. If, by reason of the height of the banks, or the strength
of the place and its position, it is impossible, when besieging a
place, to avail oneself of the plan of bombardment, I have methods
for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were
founded on a rock, etc. 4. Again, I have kinds of mortars; most
convenient and easy to carry; and with these I can fling small
stones almost resembling a storm; and with the smoke of these cause
great terror to the enemy, to his great detriment and
confusion. 5. And if the fight should be at sea I have
kinds of many machines most efficient for offense and defense; and
vessels which will resist the attack of the largest
guns and powder and fumes. 6. I have means by
secret and tortuous mines and ways, made without noise, to reach a
designated spot, even if it were needed to pass under a trench or a
river. 7. I will make covered chariots, safe and unattackable,
which, entering among the enemy with their artillery, there is no
body of men so great but they would break them. And behind these,
infantry could follow quite unhurt and without any
hindrance. 8. In case of need I will make big guns,
mortars, and light ordnance of fine and useful forms, out of the
common type. 9. Where the operation of bombardment
might fail, I would contrive catapults, mangonels, trabocchi, and
other machines of marvellous efficacy and not in common use. And in
short, according to the variety of cases, I can contrive various
and endless means of offense and defense. 10. In times
of peace I believe I can give perfect satisfaction and to the equal
of any other in architecture and the composition of buildings
public and private; and in guiding water from one place to
another. 11. I can carry out sculpture in marble,
bronze, or clay, and also I can do in painting whatever may be
done, as well as any other, be he who he may. Again,
the bronze horse may be taken in hand, which is to be to the
immortal glory and eternal honor of the prince your father of happy
memory, and of the illustrious house of Sforza. And if any of the
above-named things seem to anyone to be impossible or not feasible,
I am most ready to make the experiment in your park, or in whatever
place may please your Excellency - to whom I comment myself with
the utmost humility, etc."