Charles d’Amboise

Da Vinci

Charles d’Amboise was a patron of Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci, who was doing architectural work at the time, laid out plans for a palace-villa for D’Amboise. Some of Da Vinci’s sketches also planned for an oratory for the church of Santa Maria alla Fontana, which Charles funded. Perhaps in admiration of Da Vinci’s painting style, another portrait of D’Amboise by Andrea Solario resembles the pose of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.