A scheme for a canal city, with red-chalk plans
Urban-planning notes on dispersing population, canals and taxes, addressed to a prince
Red-chalk and pen plans carry the names of districts (Sinese, Rensa, Tosa, Romana) around a large planimetric layout, with smaller plans of canals, gardens and fishponds. The prose sets out a political scheme addressed to a ruler: give the writer authority and, without cost, the lands will obey their leaders, whose sons serve as hostages and who are bound by building houses in the city. Ten cities would yield five thousand houses and thirty thousand dwellings, breaking up the crowded masses that breed pestilence, and bringing beauty, tax revenue and eternal fame to the enlarged city.
On this page
Dispersing the crowded population into a rebuilt city
Peoples obey their magnates, who are bound to the lord by kinship or by property; each is made to build a house or two in the city. Ten cities would give five thousand houses and thirty thousand dwellings, breaking up the throng that stands packed like goats breeding pestilent death, and making the city beautiful, profitable in taxes, and famous for its growth.
Proposal for authority, addressed to the ruler
A note begins as a direct proposal: give me authority so that, without expense to you, all the lands will be made to obey their heads. The sentence breaks off as it turns to those leaders.
Canal, garden and fishpond kept clear of mud
A small plan is labelled canal, garden and fishpond, with the rule that nothing be thrown into the canals and that every boat carry out its share of mud and cast it onto the embankment. Another plan notes draining the canal to clean the channels.
Named districts within the city plan
Within the large red-chalk planimetric drawing Leonardo writes the names Sinese, Rensa, Gessa(?), Tosa and Romana, laying the districts out across the layout of the city.
Lodi's expense and the foreign house-owners of Milan
The city of Lodi will bear the expense and draw the reward it yearly gives the Duke. A foreigner who owns a house in Milan will often come to live in it for the grander lodging; those who build have wealth, the poor rabble is separated from them, taxes and fame grow, and even absent owners stay faithful so as not to lose the fruit of their house and capital.