Leonardo Da Vinci: The Marvellous Works of Nature and Man

Widely acclaimed as the classic treatment of Leonardo’s art, science, and thought, this masterly account provides an unparalleled insight into the development of Leonardo’s intellect and artistic vision. Taking us on a journey through the entire span of his career, it is a unique ‘cultural biography’, looking at the nature of Leonardo’s art and thought at key stages of his life, and making sense of his manifold and diverse works in terms of the underlying preoccupations and driving forces that they reveal. From his early training in Florence, through the great works for which he is best known, to the supremely powerful ‘Deluge’ drawings of his later years, Martin Kemp gives a fully integrated picture of Leonardo’s artistic, scientific, and technological achievements. Covering all areas of his work, and generously illustrated throughout with over two hundred illustrations including a wide range of Leonardo’s private manuscript sketches, Marvellous works represents the ultimate introduction to this central figure in western art.