This chapter establishes Verrocchio’s technical innovations, his breadth of expertise across many media, and his tendency to move across media. It argues that the unusual nature of Verrocchio’s workshop – where he worked in many different media simultaneously and in the same space (unlike other artists, who tended to have separate spaces dedicated to different materials) – led Verrocchio to use materials and techniques to express ideas. These ideas are rooted in the rich vernacular literary culture of Florence. The proof of Verrocchio’s engagement with this culture is found in three zibaldoni (commonplace books) made in his workshop.