Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was far more than a painter; he embodied the ideal of the Renaissance man. Through a multidisciplinary body of work spanning painting, anatomy, architecture, and engineering, he helped shape the visual memory of Western culture. Works such as The Vitruvian Man, The Last Supper, and the Mona Lisa have continued to represent the universal language of art for centuries.
This updated XXL edition brings together all of Leonardo’s paintings and approximately 700 drawings, presenting one of the most comprehensive visual surveys of his work ever published. Full-page, high-resolution details extending to the edges of the page allow Leonardo’s revolutionary brushwork and carefully balanced compositions to be examined at close range. Each detail bears witness to the technical and aesthetic mastery he achieved in painting.
The book’s extensive catalogue of drawings reveals the full extent of Leonardo’s boundless curiosity and imagination. Ranging from engineering studies of complex machines to intimate portraits of infants, these works demonstrate how scientific thought and emotional sensitivity coexisted in his practice. Even scenes from everyday life acquire a profound sense of observation and humanity in Leonardo’s hands.
For this new edition, art historian Frank Zöllner has written a new foreword addressing the latest academic research into Leonardo’s complete body of work. The highly debated painting Salvator Mundi (Christ as Salvator Mundi) is also examined from a critical perspective. Many of the images have been updated with newer, higher-quality photography.
More than an art book, this volume is a collectable reference offering insight into Leonardo’s life, intellectual world, and creative genius. It is an exceptional work for art historians, collectors, and anyone with an appreciation for visual culture.
“This richly illustrated book is a magnificent celebration of the visual qualities of Leonardo’s work.”
— The Art Newspaper
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Authors: Frank Zöllner, Johannes Nathan
Publisher: TASCHEN
Binding: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 712
Language: English
Content: All paintings and approximately 700 drawings
ISBN: 978-3-8365-8597-2