Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), the archetype of the “Renaissance man,” left behind only a few paintings, but each one confirms his place as one of the most respected and admired painters in the Western tradition. This attractively priced book, the most affordable da Vinci book available, contains the entirety of his painted work as well as sketches and drawings that have led to the definitive attribution of his works. Vasari's “Life of Leonardo da Vinci” is also included; Vasari, who knew the artist during his life, described a number of da Vinci's works and has likewise contributed to the authentication of his work.

Da Vinci's paintings are some of the earliest examples of the psychological portrait. In his pictures, it is the changing atmospheric conditions that complement and breathe life into the delicate rendering of forms and the emotional experiences of his subjects.

Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) made detailed anatomical sketches that contributed both to a greater understanding of the human body and to the compositions of his own artworks. Da Vinci was not content with a passive description of the human body; he sought to understand the mysteries of its functions by studying the mechanics, senses and bodily processes through the means of dissection.
This catalog for the exhibition at the Château de Clos Lucé, where da Vinci spent the final years of his life, demonstrates how the artist’s work as an anatomist was critical to his practice as a painter. Well-known works such as The Last Supper are shown to have been influenced by knowledge gathered in the medical field. The book brings together Leonardo’s drawings with objects, books studied by the artist, interviews with specialists and 3D reconstructions.

Leonardo da Vinci created many of the most beautiful and important drawings in the history of Western art. His anatomical drawings became the yardstick for the early study of the human body. From their unique perspectives as artist and scientist, brothers Stephen and Michael Farthing analyze Leonardo’s drawings—which are concerned chiefly with the skeletal, cardiovascular, muscular and nervous systems—and discuss the impact they had on both art and medical understanding.

In addition, Stephen has created a series of drawings in response to Leonardo, which are reproduced with commentary by Michael, who also provides a useful glossary of medical terminology. Together, they reveal how some of Leonardo’s leaps of understanding were nothing short of revolutionary and, despite some misunderstandings, attest to the accuracy of his grasp.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was born in Florence and studied with the renowned painter Verrocchio, qualifying as a “master” at the age of 20 in 1472. After his apprenticeship he worked for Ludovico il Moro, later moving to Rome, Bologna and Venice before settling in France, where his final three years were spent in the service of François I.

The extraordinary technologic innovations and revolutionary machines from the collection of the Leonardo Museum in Vinci. This beautifully illustrated volume discovers the multiple interests of Leonardo the technologist, the architect, the man of science and, more generally, the history of Renaissance techniques.

Romano Nanni is director of the Biblioteca Leonardiana and of the Leonardo Museum in Vinci (Florence).