The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci, the Forerunner

In the bustling streets of late‑15th‑century Florence, the city’s vibrant commerce and fervent faith collide over a newly unearthed statue of Venus. The discovery sparks a heated debate: some see it as a celebration of artistic triumph, while others deem it a dangerous relic of idolatry, demanding its destruction. This tension sets the stage for a world where beauty, politics, and piety are in constant conflict, and the very stones of the city seem to whisper of ancient gods returning to the fore.

Amid the clamor of dye‑makers, merchants, and guilds, we meet Messer Cipriano Buonaccorsi, a seasoned trader whose ledger records the flow of spices, wool and exotic goods. As he prepares for a crucial fair in Montpellier, his daily routine is interrupted by the arrival of Grillo, a humble farmer bearing Easter gifts. Their conversation hints at larger currents—rumors of a brilliant young artist whose inventions may reshape art itself—drawing Cipriano into a web of intrigue that promises to test his loyalties and ambitions.