crookedindifference: Leonardo da Vinci’s Resume Before he was famous, before he painted the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, before he invented the helicopter, before he drew the most famous image of man, before he was all of these things, Leonardo da Vinci was an artificer, an armorer, a maker of things that go “boom”. And, like you, he had to put together a resume to get his next gig. So in 1482, at the age of 30, he wrote out a letter and a list of his capabilities and sent it off to Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan. The translation of this letter: “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.”
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crookedindifference:

Leonardo da Vinci’s Resume

Before he was famous, before he painted the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, before he invented the helicopter, before he drew the most famous image of man, before he was all of these things, Leonardo da Vinci was an artificer, an armorer, a maker of things that go “boom”.

And, like you, he had to put together a resume to get his next gig. So in 1482, at the age of 30, he wrote out a letter and a list of his capabilities and sent it off to Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan.

The translation of this letter:

“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.”

(via fuckyeahmanuscripts)

Source: cenedella.com

usnatarchives: Happy Bastille Day! Thomas Jefferson, ambassador and future President, was in Paris during the French Revolution and provided a detailed account of the events through his letters to John Jay: The deputies retired, the people rushed against the place, and almost in an instant were in possession of a fortification, defended by 100 men, of infinite strength, which in other times had stood several regular sieges and had never been taken. Read Jefferson’s thoughts on this historic French event: http://go.usa.gov/fiY (Image: Excerpt from letter written by Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, reporting on the events in Paris (French Revolution) 07/19/1789, National Archives.)
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usnatarchives:

Happy Bastille Day! Thomas Jefferson, ambassador and future President, was in Paris during the French Revolution and provided a detailed account of the events through his letters to John Jay:

The deputies retired, the people rushed against the place, and almost in an instant were in possession of a fortification, defended by 100 men, of infinite strength, which in other times had stood several regular sieges and had never been taken.

Read Jefferson’s thoughts on this historic French event: http://go.usa.gov/fiY

(Image: Excerpt from letter written by Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, reporting on the events in Paris (French Revolution) 07/19/1789, National Archives.)

(via todaysdocument)

Source: usnatarchives

creativecorrespondents: Get To Know Your Correspondents, Episode #002 Name: Estivalia Age: 25 Location: Antofagasta, Chile Personal Statement: I’m an easy-going Graphic Design student aspiring to become an artist/illustrator. I’m always looking to learn and try new techniques. Deep down I’m a girly girl. Mail art created by Estivalia
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creativecorrespondents:

Get To Know Your Correspondents, Episode #002

Name: Estivalia

Age: 25

Location: Antofagasta, Chile

Personal Statement: I’m an easy-going Graphic Design student aspiring to become an artist/illustrator. I’m always looking to learn and try new techniques. Deep down I’m a girly girl.

Mail art created by Estivalia
filmatelist: Letters sent to Suze from Bob while she was in Italy for nearly six months studying art in 1962. In addition to his letters, he would often send her poetry by Lord Byron and extracts from lyrics he was working on. In one letter Bob wrote, “Yes maybe I wish maybe you didn’t cut your hair - it’s so good… it’ll grow back tho huh?”
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filmatelist:

Letters sent to Suze from Bob while she was in Italy for nearly six months studying art in 1962. In addition to his letters, he would often send her poetry by Lord Byron and extracts from lyrics he was working on. In one letter Bob wrote, “Yes maybe I wish maybe you didn’t cut your hair - it’s so good… it’ll grow back tho huh?”

Source: toilandblood

classicpenguin:

ransomcenter:

Read the full article on The Daily Beast website, “Last Letters From World War I Literary Heroes.”

English poet Wilfred Owen’s last letter to his mother. Dated Oct. 31, 1918, Owen was killed on November 4, one week before the Armistice.

The Ransom Center holds a Wilfred Owen Collection of World War I Poetry, which includes some family correspondence as well.

Wow, this is incredible—and Owen’s poetry is shocking, affecting, bewildering, powerful. One of his best-known poems, “Dulce et Decorum est”, he actually composed in a letter to his mother, written one year before this one, introducing it by saying, “Here is a gas poem done yesterday, (which is not private, but not final).”

Source: ransomcenter