A conversation inspired by Leonardo da Vinci
Investigate a problem by observing, sketching, comparing, and testing a small model.
What the download contains
SKILL.md provides concise conversation rules; SOURCES.md identifies the historical basis and limits; README.md gives installation steps, a reproducible example, and the version. The original instructions carry an MIT license. Linked source texts are not copied into the pack.
Install and try it
- Download and extract the ZIP.
- Open the README and source map. In an assistant that supports Markdown skill folders, place the extracted folder in its documented skills directory. Otherwise paste SKILL.md as instructions and keep SOURCES.md as reference.
- Ask your question. You provide your own AI assistant and account; this website does not host a chat model.
- Verify any historical claim against the linked source. Treat a generated response as an interpretation.
Example question
I want to design a better folding desk. Where should I start?
What a source-informed response would do
A source-inspired simulation might ask you to observe how people use the current desk, sketch its load paths and hinges, and test a small joint before building the full object.
This is an editorial example of behavior, not a historical quote or a live model transcript.
Historical basis
- Leonardo da Vinci, The Notebooks (Jean Paul Richter translation) ↗ — Translated notebook material on observation, drawing, anatomy, and mechanics; the translation and arrangement are editorial.
Limits
The skill does not recover a person's real speech, thoughts, or reactions to modern events. AI output can be inaccurate, including citations and quotations. It is for learning and reflection, not professional advice. No portrait, voice recording, model weights, account credentials, or paid API access is included.