Turner’s book, Wanderings By The Loire, inspired English artists to paint Château Amboise.

Many know Turner, the artist. Many know Louis-Philippe, the last king of France. Not many know that the son of a poor Londoner and the French aristocrat, admired each other, became friends and stayed friends, or that in October 1826 Turner came to Amboise to sketch the Royal Château. It was empty. Louis Philippe was not invited to be King of the French until 1830.

A Dutch artist with the wonderful name of Lambert Doomer, arrived in Amboise in the summer of 1646. He left with a sketchbook of wonderful drawings which captured the spirit of the age.

Millions flock to Rome to gaze on Michelangelo’s Pietà, one of the most magnificent works of art the world has ever seen but how many of them know that it was commissioned by a French man?

To mark the fifth centenary of Leonardo’s death in 1519, the Vatican loaned it to the Château to be exhibited to the public. This was the first time in 500 years it had been seen outside the Vatican and Italian Museums.

François Clouet was taught by his father Jean Clouet. Jean Clouet was taught portraiture in Amboise by Leonardo da Vinci. François opened the first chapter in the history of of modern painting in France. His death ended the glorious days of portrait painting in France.

If it were not for Francesco no-one would know Leonardo’s exquisite drawings, the workings of his mind on the mysteries of the universe or that he told his apprentices painting is a science based on mathematics and geometry.

Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years not in his own country, Italy, but in France. They were very happy years, the happiest of his life.