Milan. Leonardo da Vinci meets the young Francesco Melzi, and is adopted by Leonardo, in agreement with the boy’s family. He effectively makes him his adoptive son, who will remain at his side for the rest of Leonardo’s life and carefully preserve his writings and works, many of which have thus survived to this day. He is a devoted companion, less complicated and diabolical than Salai. Leonardo’s father and mother had only half-siblings, who had even sued him in court for the inheritance from their uncle Francesco da Vinci, which he left to Leonardo. In short, Leonardo has no family, except Francesco Melzi, and is aware of his advanced age.
