Armature for Casting the Bronze Horse
A dated memorandum (17 May 1491) opening the record of the Sforza horse's casting
Folio 157v opens with a dated memorandum, on the evening of 17 May 1491, announcing that Leonardo will here set down all matters concerning the bronze horse on which he is then at work. Below, a red-chalk drawing shows a low wooden base frame carrying a horizontal beam from which hangs a row of curved iron clamps. A caption identifies this as the armature of the male and female parts of the horse's cast.
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Dated memorandum opening the casting record
On the evening of 17 May 1491, Leonardo notes that here he will keep a record of all those things pertaining to the bronze horse on which he is presently at work. The entry carries stray marginal figures (14 and 31; the 17) and serves as a dated heading for the casting campaign.
Armature of the mould's male and female
The caption states that the drawn apparatus is the armature of the male and female parts of the horse's cast. It names the framework that holds the outer mould and inner core in register during casting.
Iron clamps mounted on a base frame
The red-chalk drawing depicts a shallow rectangular wooden base frame supporting a raised horizontal beam. From the beam descends a close row of hooked, curving iron clamps or brackets that grip along its length.