Leonardo Dangerous Liaisons (Season 1, Episode 2)
TV Episode | Documentary, History

Leonardo

Dangerous Liaisons (Season 1, Episode 2)

TV Episode | Documentary, History

The year is 1500. Leonardo da Vinci is 48 years old and has been forced to leave Milan - his home for the past 18 years. He travels east, towards Venice, a city under threat of invasion from the Turkish fleet. Leonardo suggests the ...See moreThe year is 1500. Leonardo da Vinci is 48 years old and has been forced to leave Milan - his home for the past 18 years. He travels east, towards Venice, a city under threat of invasion from the Turkish fleet. Leonardo suggests the Venetians implement his idea for an underwater army - men in scuba gear who will attack from underwater. The Venetians remain unconvinced and never put his ideas to the test. 500 years later we take up Leonardo's designs and, with the aid of diving experts, put them to the test in the Venetian lagoon. Presenter Alan Yentob trails Leonardo in his return to Florence, the city of his youth, following rejection by the Venetians. We find him absorbed in his scientific research, particularly anatomy. He's also seen drawing the famous Virgin and Child with St. Anne. Leaving Florence in 1502 we find him in the company of the notorious Cesare Borgia. Alan visits Imola, a town which Leonardo mapped out for Cesare, creating a unique and prized map of the time. Returning to Florence, we are presented with the rivalry between Leonardo and another emerging artistic great, Michelangelo. Throughout his life we see Leonardo fascinated by the concept of flying and flying machines - his notebooks providing enduring evidence of this preoccupation. But would any of them have worked? Alan travels to Tuscany and watches a glider being built from one of Leonardo's designs before it's put to the test. After initial problems the pilots take their cue from Leonardo's observations of birds - a tail is added and success ensues. See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
14 cast members

Name	Known for
Mark Rylance Leonardo Leonardo See fewer	Bridge of Spies (2015)
Che Cartwright Salai Salai See fewer	Leonardo (2003)
James Frain Cesare Borgia Cesare Borgia See fewer	The Tudors (2007)
Adam Croasdell Michelangelo Michelangelo See fewer	The Electric State
Christopher Benjamin The Pope The Pope See fewer	The Plague Dogs (1982)
Kai Portman Giovanni Giovanni See fewer	2047: Sights of Death (2014)
Jerry Brotton Self - University of London (as Dr Jerry Brotton) Self - University of London (as Dr Jerry Brotton) See fewer	Leonardo (2003)
Scott Cassell Self Self See fewer	Colossal Squid (2008)
Sherwin Nuland Self - Professor of Clinical Surgery Self - Professor of Clinical Surgery See fewer	Mysteries Within (2002)
Gareth Padfield Self Self See fewer	Leonardo (2003)
Mark Rosheim Self Self See fewer	Leonardo (2003)
Simon Sanderson Self Self See fewer	Ancient Aliens (2009)
Evelyn Welch Self - Sussex University (as Dr Evelyn Welch) Self - Sussex University (as Dr Evelyn Welch) See fewer	Rembrandt: From the National Gallery, London and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (2014)
Robbie Whittall Self Self See fewer	Leonardo (2003)