Cost estimate for the Trivulzio equestrian monument
Itemised expenses for the bronze horse and its marble tomb, totalling 3046 ducats
A dense page of continuous notes giving Leonardo's detailed cost estimate for the tomb of Messer Gian Giacomo da Trivulzio: a bronze equestrian monument set over a marble sepulchre. He prices the casting of the life-size charger and rider (metal, ironwork, model in clay then wax, and the labourers who will clean it) at 1582 ducats, the marble blocks at 389 ducats, and the marble workmanship, figures, festoons, harpies with candelabra and the effigy of the dead man at 1075 ducats. Everything joined together comes to 3046 ducats. The estimate names the architectural marble frame in detail, with columns, capitals, cornices, architrave, bases and pedestals.
On this page
Casting the bronze horse and rider
A great life-size charger with the man above requires 500 ducats of metal, 200 for the ironwork of the model, charcoal, timber, casting pit, mould-closing and furnace, 432 to make the model in clay then wax, and 450 for the workmen who will clean it once cast, coming to 1582 ducats in all.
The marble tomb: columns, cornices and mouldings
The estimate itemises the marble frame of the sepulchre: the block beneath the horse, cornices, frieze and architrave, eight fluted columns with bases, capitals, and eight pedestals, each measured in braccia and once and priced by the hundredweight or by the braccio.
Figures, harpies and the effigy of the dead man
The marble workmanship includes eight figures at 25 ducats each around the base, festoons, panels with figures and trophies, six harpies with candelabra at 25 ducats each, and the figure of the dead man, to be made well, at 100 ducats.
The three subtotals and the grand total
The estimate gathers its parts into subtotals of 1582 ducats for the horse, 389 for the marble blocks and 1075 for the marble workmanship, so that everything joined together comes to 3046 ducats.
