The mortars were intended to discharge Greek fire to burn the rigging and sails of enemy ships. The bottom drawing shows a box-shaped mortar mounted on a small boat. Unfortunately, such a small boat would most likely capsize if mortar fired.
“Leonardo Da Vinci (Vinci 1452-Amboise 1519) - Recto: Designs for Gun-Barrels and Mortars. Verso: A Town Wall Being Blown Up.” Royal Collection Trust, www.rct.uk/collection/912652/rectonbspdesigns-fornbspgun-barrels-and-mo….
Featured in Exhibit
Date
circa. 1485
Artist
Associated events
Copyright
©
Vetted?
No