Infernal machines as high art

Craft & Design Education
Infernal machines as high art
davinciScythedchariots1.jpg

Disclaimer: We at the MAKE blog do not advocate the construction or operation of chariots with giant whirling blades to chop people into bits, even if they are very rude. Nor, in general, do we like to celebrate the creation of unstoppable killing machines. Or even stoppable ones, for that matter. But we’re prepared to make broad, sweeping exceptions for Da Vinci, because, well, you know–prototype of the Renaissance Man and all that.

Having thus absolved myself, I present this fascinating collection of war machines designed by Leonardo himself.

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I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

View more articles by Sean Michael Ragan

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