Leonardo on Painting: An Anthology of Writings by Leonardo da Vinci with a Selection of Documents Relating to his Career

by Leonardo da Vinci, Martin Kemp (Editor), Margaret Walker (Translator)

This book is an anthology of writings by Leonardo da Vinci, with a selection of documents relating to his career as an artist. This book is an invaluable reference work for art historians as well as for anyone interested in the mind and methods of one of the world's greatest creative geniuses.

Genres: Art, Biography, Anthologies, Nonfiction, Memoir

328 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 1989

About the author

It was on April 15, 1452, that Leonardo was born in the town of Vinci, Republic of Florence, in what is now in Italy, the illegitimate son of a notary and a barmaid. It is from his birthplace that he is known as Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo seemed to master every subject to which he turned his attention: he was a painter, draftsman, sculptor, architect, and engineer, wrote poetry and stories: the prototype Renaissance man!

His Last Supper (1495-97) and Mona Lisa (La Gioconda, 1503-06) are among the most popular paintings from the Renaissance. He and his rival Michelangelo did great service to the medical arts by accurate paintings of dissections, which were only occasionally allowed by the Church. Yet, his artistry appeared to be an afterthought, as he frequently left his works unfinished, and only about fifteen of his paintings survive. His notebooks reveal that he was centuries ahead of his time in mechanics and physic, fortifications, bridges, weapons, and river diversions to flood the enemy, which aided Italian city-states in their many wars.

Leonardo was an early evolutionist regarding fossils. Through his careful observations he noted that “if the shells had been carried by the muddy deluge they would have been mixed up, and separated from each other amidst the mud, and not in regular steps and layers — as we see them now in our time.” Leonardo reasoned that what is now dry land, where these aquatic fossils were found, must once have been covered by seawater.

He was for a short time accused of homosexuality: there is no evidence Leonardo had any sexual interest in women. As he wrote in his notebooks, “The act of procreation and anything that has any relation to it is so disgusting that human beings would soon die out if there were no pretty faces and sensuous dispositions.”

And what of his religion? It is significant that at the end of his life he felt he had much spiritual negligence to atone for. His first biographer, Giorgio Vasari, wrote in 1550:

"Finally, …feeling himself near to death, [he] asked to have himself diligently informed of the teaching of the Catholic faith, and of the good way and holy Christian religion; and then, with many moans, he confessed and was penitent; and … was pleased to take devoutly the most holy Sacrament, out of his bed. The King, who was wont often and lovingly to visit him, then came into the room; wherefore he, out of reverence … showed withal how much he had offended God and mankind in not having worked at his art as he should have done."

There was much skepticism in Renaissance Italy at the time, and Leonardo was an intellectual genius, not just an artistic genius. While there was great intellectual freedom during the Italian Renaissance, there were limits as long as the Dominicans, the “Hounds of the Lord,” were active. This semblance of a deathbed conversion, by so critical a thinker and so great a genius as Leonardo, who would have nothing to lose by professing piety all his life, can only mean that during his prime years he was a secret freethinker.

Leonardo died quietly on the 2 of May, 1519, a few weeks following his 67th birthday.

Reviews

[Dickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that I think anyone who thinks about art should be familiar with. These writings are filled with insights from one of the greatest artists of all time.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course Leonardo was an excellent artist, but this book was repetitive ramblings most of the time. Many of his points were often outdated an offensive. The mathematical perspective on art was informative, but I question the presentation and organization of it.

[Fabian Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and passionate text

[Joshua Pearsall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far from an easy read, Leonardo was sadly not as good a writer as he was a painter. This is also a collection of his works, as Leonardo himself never finished his intended treatise on writing. I would highly recommend his work on shadows (though stale he was the master Chiaroscuro), his notes on bodily proportions (if you, like Vitruvius, wish to hold to mathematical undergirding in art), and his advice to painters. Otherwise, I think Alberti's "On Painting" will be a much easier and more enjoyable read, much easier to learn from, and this could simply be a supplement too. I think Alberti's writings on proportion & [h]istoria (narrative) will simply be far better. For the letters in the back, interesting but not a must read, though his will was a beautiful read seeing how he wished to disperse his remaining material goods & lift himself up to the Church.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

see pg 144

[Noah Beshara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden gem 💎

[♥Alyssa♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think the book had alot of details and info.

[Oshioke Lucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

the book is one of my best