Leonardo Da Vinci Horse & The Pilot

Thereby hangs a tale. The modern-day horse was launched by a small sidebar in a larger article about Leonardo da Vinci in the September 1977 issue of National Geographic - titled The Horse That Never Was. Leonardo dreamed of a monumental bronze horse that would glow in the Milanese sunlight, guaranteeing his place in history as a sculptor, for none larger had ever been conceived... and then lost. The romantic legend, interwoven with creative genius and human frailty cast its spell over Charles Dent, a retired United Airlines pilot, artist and art collector who was already a Leonardo admirer and a Renaissance in his own right. He decided then and there that Leonardo and Italy should have a horse - as a gesture of appreciation from the American people for the legacy of the Italian Renaissance that has enriched our own culture. Charlie Dent took up the Horse's reins and remained at full gallop for the rest of his life.The book shares the adventures of the modern Horse and through the 1999 unveiling in Milan.