Leonardo was sent to Milan in 1482 with a silver lyre.
Leonardo left Florence for the court of Ludovico Sforza, the powerful ruler of Milan, during a period when Italian courts competed to attract artists, engineers, musicians, and architects. The silver lyre was reportedly presented as a diplomatic gift, helping Leonardo gain an introduction to Sforza’s court. Leonardo was known not only as a painter but also as a musician and designer of theatrical spectacles and mechanical devices.
The move began one of the most productive phases of his career. In Milan, he worked on major projects including The Last Supper, created designs for an enormous equestrian monument, and pursued studies in architecture, anatomy, engineering, and water management. His Milanese service lasted for many years, although political upheaval eventually forced him to leave.
The date and lyre story come from biographical accounts of Leonardo’s early career. A common mistake is to associate his 1482 departure with Rome, Venice, or Naples; those cities were important Renaissance centers, but Milan was the destination connected with the silver lyre and Ludovico Sforza.