The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci

Více o knize

Leonardo da Vinci, born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, was deeply engaged with the laws of science and nature, which significantly shaped his work as a painter, sculptor, inventor, and draftsman. His renowned pieces, including "Virgin of the Rocks," "The Last Supper," "Leda and the Swan," and "Mona Lisa," have left an indelible mark on countless artists and solidified his status as a luminary of the Italian Renaissance. However, a singular fate has affected many of his most famous works. Two of his three major projects, the Sforza Monument and the Wall-painting of the Battle of Anghiari, were left unfinished due to obstacles during his lifetime. The third, "The Last Supper," has suffered significant damage from decay and careless restorations in the 17th and 18th centuries. Despite this, no other Renaissance artwork has achieved such widespread recognition through countless reproductions. Vasari noted that Leonardo's influence came more from his words than his deeds, highlighting the numerous preserved manuscripts. These original texts remained largely unpublished and forgotten for centuries, despite their recognized value. The peculiarities of Leonardo's handwriting, which included writing backwards and a unique orthography, made deciphering them a daunting task, often deterring even his most devoted admirers.