Leonardo da Vinci：Self, Art and Nature

ThisincisiveandilluminatingbiographyfollowsthethreethemesthatshapedthelifeofLeonardodaVinciand,throughhim,foreverchangedWesternartandimagination:nature,art,andself-fashioning.NatureandarthelpedformLeonardo.HespenthisfirsttwelveyearsintheTuscancountrysidebeforeenteringthemostreputedartisticworkshopofFlorence.Thereheblossomedasoneofthemostpromisingpaintersofhistimeandpromptlyappliedhisskillstoexploreandquestiontheworldthroughscienceandinvention.Leonardowasalsoself-fashioned:hereceivedonlyabasiceducationandgrewuparoundpeasantsandartisans.Butfromthe1480sonwards,hetransformedhimselfintoacourtartistandbecameafamiliarofkingsandrulers.FollowingthechronologyofLeonardo’sextraordinarylife,thisbookexaminesLeonardoasartist,courtier,andthinker,andexploreshowtheseaspectsfoundexpressioninhispaintings,aswellasinhisworkinsculpture,architecture,theaterdesign,urbanplanning,engineering,anatomy,geology,andcartography.FrançoisQuivigerconcludeswithobservationsonLeonardo’srelevancetodayasamodelofthemultidisciplinaryartistwhocombinesimagination,art,andscience—theoriginal,andultimate,RenaissanceMan.