Abstract: Abstract Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing of an Etruscan mausoleum has long puzzled scholars. Although they agree that the discovery of an Etruscan tomb at Castellina in Chianti inspired the work, questions remain about the master’s interpretation of Etruscan architecture and its place in his broader oeuvre. Through a reading of early documents related to the tomb discovery, this study offers a new interpretation of the work’s origin, content, and purpose. It situates the work within an epistolary exchange between some of Florence’s leading citizens, and posits that it reflects contemporary views of Etruscan architecture drawn from textual and archaeological sources.