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The elaborate contract was designed to force Leonardo, already known for leaving paintings unfinished, to buckle down and produce a completed work. It stipulated that he had to supply from his own pocket “the colors, the gold and all other costs arising.” The painting had to be delivered “within thirty months at the most,” or Leonardo would be forced to forfeit whatever he had done and get no compensation. Even the payment plan was odd: Leonardo would receive some property near Florence that had been donated to the monastery, have the right to sell it back to the monastery for 300 florins, but would also have to pay a young woman’s dowry of 150 florins that had been part of the land bequest. It was clear within three months that these badly laid plans were going awry. Leonardo was unable to pay the first installment on the dowry, and he thus went into debt to the monastery for it. He also had to borrow money to buy paint. He was paid a bundle of sticks and logs for decorating the monastery’s clock, but his account was debited for “one barrel of vermilion wine” that he got on credit.19 Thus one of history’s most creative artists found himself decorating a clock for firewood, borrowing money for paint, and cadging wine. Isaacson, Walter. Leonardo da Vinci (p. 76). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition. Isaacson, Walter. Leonardo da Vinci (p. 76). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition. Isaacson, Walter. Leonardo da Vinci (pp. 75-76). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition.

— Da vinci – business  

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