In 1994, Bill Gates Made A Historic Purchase Of The Codex Leicester, A Valuable Manuscript Written By The Renowned Artist And Inventor Leonardo Da Vinci, For An Impressive $30.8 Million.
At The Time, This Made It The Only Surviving Da Vinci Manuscript In Private Hands. The Codex, Filled With Da Vinci’s Scientific And Artistic Insights, Is A Unique And Priceless Piece Of History.
Three years after acquiring the manuscript, Gates decided to make it more accessible to the public by having its pages scanned into high-quality digital files.
These digital versions of the codex were then included in the Microsoft Plus! package for Windows, where they were featured as screensavers and wallpapers.
This initiative allowed people worldwide to appreciate da Vinci’s genius in a new and innovative format. By combining art and technology, Gates made it possible for many to explore the manuscript’s contents, bringing the work of a historical master into the digital age and into the homes of countless people.
