Leonardo da Vinci. Manuscripts

Five hundred years separate us from the time when Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) lived, an artist and inventor, a true embodiment of the Renaissance man, whose legacy continues to fascinate and captivate us. In addition to a dozen mysterious and beautiful paintings, Leonardo also left us a considerable number of sketches, notes, and writings that not only amazed and inspired his contemporaries but also elicit awe from modern audiences. While the astonishing skill of Leonardo the artist earned him well-deserved fame, his numerous notes are far less known. There are about four thousand sheets representing several different collections and compilations of his manuscripts. Covering a wide array of topics, from anatomical studies to details of grinding and mixing pigments, they give us virtually unlimited access to the rich imagination of the great master.
The book consists solely of Leonardo's own drawings and writings. They are presented in an edited format and organized into chapters and sections. And although such classification somewhat loosely treats Leonardo's highly syncretic approach to the topics that interested him, it is aimed at creating a more convenient structure for the modern reader.