The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Vol. I

Leonardo da Vinci

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN:
  9780486135762
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: History of Architecture

Scientist, painter, mechanical engineer, sculptor, thinker, city planner, storyteller, musician, architect — Leonardo da Vinci, builder of the first flying machine, was one of the great universal geniuses of Western civilization. His voluminous notebooks, the great storehouse of his theories and discoveries, are presented here in 1566 extracts that reveal the full range of Leonardo's versatile interest: all the important writings on painting, sculpture, architecture, anatomy, astronomy, geography, topography, and other fields are included, in both Italian and English, with 186 plates of manuscript pages and many other drawings reproduced in facsimile size.
The first volume, which contains all of Leonardo's writings on aspects of painting, includes discussions of such basic scientific areas as the structure of the eye and vision, perspective, the science of light and shade, the perspective of disappearance, theory of color, perspective of color, proportions and movements of the human figure, botany for painters, and the elements of landscape painting. A section on the practice of painting includes moral precepts for painters and writings on composition, materials, and the philosophy of art. The second volume contains writings on sculpture, architecture (plans for towns, streets, and canals, churches, palaces, castles, and villas, theoretical writings on arches, domes, fissures, etc.), zoology, physiology (including his amazingly accurate theories of blood circulation), medicine, astronomy, geography (including has famous writings and drawings on the movement of water), topography (observations in Italy, France, and other areas), naval warfare, swimming, theory of flying machines, mining, music, and other topics.
A selection of philosophical maxims, morals, polemics, fables, jests, studies in the lives and habits of animals, tales, and prophecies display Leonardo's abilities as a writer and scholar. The second volume also contains some letters, personal records, inventories, and accounts, and concludes with Leonardo's will. The drawings include sketches and studies for some of Leonardo's greatest works of art — The Last Supper, the lost Battle of Anghiari, The Virgin of the Rocks, and the destroyed Sforza monument.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOLUME I.

Pl. I.	Portrait of Leonardo, by himself, reproduced from the original drawing in red chalk in the Royal Library, Turin—see No. 1368, Note
Pl. II.	Three Diagrams, illustrating the theories of Linear Perspective and of Light and Shade: No. 1 from the Ashburnham MS. I No. 1—see text No. 61. Nos. 2 and 3 from MS. C, Institut de France, Paris—see text No. 141
Pl. III.	Two Diagrams, illustrating the theory of Light and Shade; from the Ashburnham MS. I: No. 1—see text Nos. 148 and 275—; No. 2—see text No. 149
Pl. IV.	Five Diagrams, illustrating the theory of Light and Shade : No. 1 from MS. E, Institut de France, Paris—see text No. 162—; Nos. 2 and 3 from the Ashburnham MS. I—see text Nos. 169 and 173—; Nos. 4 and 5 from the Codex Atlanticus, Ambrosian Library, Milan—see text Nos. 179 and 187
Pl. V.	Diagram, illustrating the theory of Light and Shade and Sketches of Figures illustrating the Movements of the Human Figure; from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle—see text Nos. 183 and 597
Pl. VI.	Four Diagrams, illustrating the theory of Light and Shade: No. 1 from the Codex Atlanticus, Milan—see text No. 191—; Nos. 2 and 3 from MS. C, Institut de France, Paris—see text Nos. 215 and 216—; No. 4 from the Ashburnham MS. I—see text No. 224
Pl. VII.	Five Drawings, illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure, from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle; No. 1—see text No. 310—; No. 2—see text Nos. 310 and 337—; No. 3—see text No. 313—; No. 4—see text Nos. 321 and 327—; No. 5—see No 595
Pl. VIII.	Two Drawings, illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure; No. 1 from MS. A, Institut de France, Paris—see text No. 312—; No. 2 from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle—see text No. 332
Pl. IX.	Drawing, illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure; from the Accademia at Venice—see text No. 315
Pl. X.	Drawing in silverpoint on bluish-toned paper, illustrating the theory of Proportions of the Human Figure; from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle—see text No. 316
Pl. XI.	Drawing, illustrating the theory of Proportions of the Human Figure; from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle—see text No. 318
Pl. XII.	Drawing, illustrating the theory of Proportions ia the Human Figure; from the Royal Library, Turin—see text No. 319
Pl. XIII.	Two Drawings illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure; from the Royal Library Windsor Castle—see text No. 328
Pl. XIV.	Two drawings, illustrating the theory of Proportions of the Human Figure, from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle; No. 1—see text Nos. 326, 330—; No 2.—see text No. 334
Pl. XV.	Sketches, illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure; from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle—see text Nos. 331 and 345
Pl. XVI.	Two Drawings, illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure; from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle: No. 1, see text No. 335; No. 2, see text Nos. 339 and 342
Pl. XVII.	Two drawings, illustrating the theory of Proportions in the Human Figure; No. 1 from MS. A, Institut de France, Paris—see text No. 313 note—; No. 2 from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle,—see text Nos. 348 and 336
Pl. XVIII.	Drawing, illustrating the Proportions of the Human Figure, from the Accademia, Venice—see text No. 343
Pl. XIX.	Two Drawings, illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle; No. 1—see text No. 347—; No. 2—see text No. 351
Pl. XX.	Drawing, illustrating the theory of the Proportions of the Human Figure; from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle—see text No. 349
Pl. XXI.	Drawing in red chalk, illustrating the theory of the Movements of the Human Figure—see text No. 356—, and sketch in pen and ink of warriors fighting—see p. 340;—from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle
Pl. XXII.	Fo...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• List of Subscribers
• Preface
• Contents
• List of Illustrations in Volume I
• I. Prolegomena and General Introduction to the Book on Painting
• II. Linear Perspective
• III. Six Books on Light and Shade
• IV. Perspective of Disappearance
• V. Theory of Colours
• VI. Perspective of Colour and Aerial Perspective
• VII. On The Proportions and on the Movements of the Human Figure
• VIII. Botany for Painters, and Elements of Landscape Painting
• IX. The Practice of Painting
• X. Studies and Sketches for Pictures and Decorations
• Reference Table to the Numerical Order of the Chapters