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Chapter 13
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CHAPTER NINE: Salai
Most people don’t’ realize that Da Vinci never married, the closest he got was to Salai who’s another man. Da Vinci had 2 other relationships that we know about in his life but Salai was with him until he died. This chapter is about who he was.
Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno “Salai” – “Salaino”
Salai means “little Devil” it’s the nickname Leonardo gave his assistant. Leonardo was said to have seen Salai drawing in a field and then approached his father to train Salai as his assistant and apprentice. Salai would have only been a peasant whose family was not too dissimilar to Leonardo’s mothers side. I’m sure he saw some potential and wanted to give Salai the opportunity to do something with his life. Salai was also (like Da Vinci himself) said to be incredibly attractive.
“Giacomo came to live with me on St. Mary Magdalene’s Day 1490, when ten years of age. Thievish, lying, obstinate, greedy. The second day I had two shirts cut out for him, a pair of hose and a doublet, and when I put money aside to pay for these things he stole the money from the wallet, and it was never possible to make him confess, although I was absolutely convinced. On the following day I went to supper with Giacomo Andrea, and the other Giacomo had supper for two and did mischief for four, for he broke three flagons, spilt the wine, and after this came to supper where I…”
Although it seemed like a good idea at the time, Gian Giacomo soon earned the nickname Salai because of his constant stealing and breaking things. There are notes in Da Vinci’s journals about what Salai broke and how much his father would have to reimburse.
Speaking of which, the name Salai is used more than any other in all of Da Vinci’s journals. Although he was taken in as a youth he stayed with Leonardo for the rest of his life, a total of 25 years. At some point it’s safe to say that they became more than pupil and teacher. Da Vinci even left half of his vineyard to Salai upon his death.
At first glance, this painting of Salai might not seem remarkable. It’s interesting that it has no credited painter. After researching Salai’s life, which was spent almost entirely with Leonardo, it’s a sure bet that he would have painted Salai. There is also another interesting drawing that alludes to Salai being the model for “John the Baptist” since they are in the same pose with the same expression (minus the boner in the drawn version)
*This was discovered May 29, 2007, the day after I uploaded the final version of this book. I’m going to include it, but the details and complete explanation will have to wait for a future edition*
On the next page are the 2 paintings, and the composite separated into the Red, Green, and Blue Channels. They were painted with the same technique and the faces align as well. Why? Since Salai was the model, it could be another clue or it could actually unlock additional images. We’ll find out soon!
But getting back to earlier portrait of Salai in particular.. It’s kept in the Alonis Foundation in Lichenstein, where coincidentally a sculpture made by Da Vinci went undiscovered for hundreds of years. So what I’m about to assert is very possible not just because of the evidence but because unaccredited Da Vinci art has been found in the exact same place previously.
After knowing Salai’s past and place in society it should be pretty obvious that there wouldn’t be too many people who would have painted him besides Da Vinci. Who else? The age he looks in the painting also shows that he was in Da Vinci’s service. Those reasons alone would point to Da Vinci being the painter which also would mean that we could give credit to another painting by the world’s greatest painter. (Thanks Derek!) Arguments against that might be that it doesn’t look like his style or maybe that those reasons aren’t proof enough. That’s understandable but what I discovered next, not only assured me that I was on the right track, but that I didn’t even know what that was anymore..
That’s actually all there is to say about Salai. He wasn’t really important to anyone but Da Vinci. It’s said that he died a few years after Da Vinci did in a gun fight. It also makes it obvious that Da Vinci painted his portrait.. If not, Da Vinci definitely was there and had access to it.
Danielle’s first time in Vegas
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