Leonardo da Vinci's largest project, popularly referred to as "Leonardo's Horse," was ruined.
The Last Supper (created between 1495 and 1498) and the Mona Lisa (created between 1503 and 1506) are among Leonardo da Vinci's most famous works, however, probably his finest work was destroyed by war. In order to finish a large horse statue contract in Francesco Sforza's honor, Da Vinci is said to have been persuaded to travel to Milan in 1482. When finished, the statue would have been substantially bigger than the two surviving equestrian sculptures from the Renaissance period created by Donatello and Verrocchio, da Vinci's teacher.
The Duke of Milan, Sforza's son, had commissioned the monument, which was over 20 feet tall. The project, known as Gran Cavallo, or "Great Horse," was laboriously worked on by Leonardo da Vinci for 17 years. Given his pursuit of other interests, Leonardo's lengthy schedule was not exceptional.
Da Vinci had intended to cast the clay model in bronze around the year 1493, but he ultimately had to give up since the metal intended for the sculpture had been assigned for the cannons. The approaching French invasion was the cause of this. As expected, the French forces took control of the city and deposed the Duke of Milan. The clay model, which was about to become one of the most important Renaissance monuments, was destroyed at that moment.
