1507–1513 - Milan II—The Anatomist’s Peak and the Inheritance

Where was Leonardo in 1507? He was in Florence, but his mind was divided between the legal dispute with his half-brothers and the anatomical dissections he was performing at the hospital of Santa Maria Nuova. The "Anatomist’s Peak" snapshot tracks the period where his focus shifted from the external mechanics of war to the internal mechanics of life.

The 1507 Litigation and Family Dynamics The death of Ser Piero in 1504 triggered a decade of legal conflict. Leonardo’s seven half-brothers (including Domenico Benedetto) argued over the distribution of the estate.

Since Leonardo was illegitimate, he had no legal right to his father’s property under Florentine law, but the death of his uncle Francesco in 1507 changed the dynamics. Francesco had made Leonardo his heir, leading to a bitter dispute with the brothers that required the intervention of the French King and the Governor of Milan to resolve.

The Anatomist's Tools (c. 1510) Year Milestone Technical / Medical Note Evidence Grade1510 Collaborative Dissections Worked with anatomist Marcantonio della Torre at the University of Pavia.[Inferred]1511 Comparative Anatomy Studies of the ox heart and the human respiratory system.[Inferred]1512 Embryological Studies First accurate drawings of the fetus in the womb.[Inferred]

Synchrotron Analysis of the Virgin of the Rocks The most significant update in recent years comes from the 2025 forensic re-examination of the London "Virgin of the Rocks" (NG 1093). Macro X-ray Fluorescence (MA-XRF) and Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy (RIS) have revealed "Composition A" underneath the final paint.

This abandoned initial design shows the Virgin in a completely different pose, adoring a Christ Child and an angel—a composition that matches early sketches now in the Metropolitan Museum.

The underdrawing was performed with a zinc-containing iron gall ink mixed with carbon black, providing a definitive forensic date for this creative pivot to the years 1491–1508.

The Second Milanese Track Geo-Location: Milan. Residence: Given a residence by the French governor Charles d'Amboise. Patron: Charles d'Amboise and King Louis XII of France. The Workbench: Status of commissions: "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne" (ongoing), completion of the "Virgin of the Rocks" (London version, 1508).

Scientific Breakthroughs: Peak period of anatomical research; produced over 240 drawings and 13,000 words of notes on the human body. World Context (Collision Point): 1512: The Battle of Ravenna.

The French are temporarily expelled from Milan, and the Sforza family (Massimiliano Sforza) briefly returns to power, destabilizing Leonardo’s position and prompting his move to Rome.