Ludovico Sforza, born in 1452 as the fourth son of the Milanese duke Francesco Sforza, and influenced by his humanist teacher Francesco Filelfo, who stimulated Ludovico’s love for literature and painting, grew up to be one of the most powerful and prosperous rulers of the Renaissance.
After being crowned Duke of Milan in 1494, Ludovico supported humanist education at the University of Milan and commissioned the expansion of the Renaissance Castello Sforzesco. The impressive architecture of the castle inspired the engraving on the cone and the design of the cap top of the Limited Edition – complemented by the Montblanc emblem in precious white resin.
Throughout his reign, Ludovico Sforza supported numerous outstanding artists with commissions at the Milanese court, including the architect Donato Bramante and the greatest genius of his era, Leonardo da Vinci. This universal genius worked for the Duke of Milan for a decade and a half, during which time he created two of his best-known works for his patron: “The Last Supper” in the convent church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and “The Lady with an Ermine”.
Limited Edition 4810
Ludovico Sforza, who was given the sobriquet “il Moro” (the moor) due to his unusually dark complexion, forged alliances with Naples, Venice and France to ensure the security of Milan and his own power. His legendary black armour is symbolised on the Limited Edition 4810 by the gleaming black lacquer with 925 sterling silver inlays. To honour this clever diplomat and intriguer, who was overthrown by the French King Louis XII after forming an alliance against France in 1499, the “testone” – a coin of the Italian Renaissance – was minted. Its distinctive embossments are immortalised on the cap ring. The 750 rhodium plated solid gold nib of the edition is engraved with the Duke’s coat of arms, a final acknowledgement to a lasting cultural legacy.
The design of the Limited Edition Ludovico Sforza 4810 cap top and cone is characterised by the striking architecture of the Castello Sforzesco. The black lacquer of the 4810 edition is adorned with ornaments inspired by da Vinci’s ceiling fresco from the “Sala delle Asse” in the Milanese castle.
Limited Edition 888
The Limited Edition 888 Ludovico Sforza, made of translucent blue lacquer and adorned with inlays of 18K – 750 yellow gold, pays tribute to the Duke of Milan and his court artist, Leonardo da Vinci. The design of the cap-top and the cone is influenced by the striking architecture of the Castello Sforzesco. The lacquer of the writing instrument is decorated with ornaments inspired by the ceiling frescos at Sala delle Asse in Sforza Castle in Milan, which were created by Leonardo. Ludovico Sforza’s family coat of arms served as inspiration for the engraving on the solid 750 gold nib.
The cap ring with its embossments is reminiscent of the “testone”, a silver coin of the Italian Renaissance minted in honour of Ludovico Sforza. A mother-of-pearl captop star completes the design.
Launch 2012
Limitation:
Fountain Pens 4,810
Fountains Pens 888
Fountain Pen 4810
Fountain Pen 888
