The Treasures of Leonardo Da Vinci

Compact and easy to use, this beautifully illustrated book looks at the major events in Leonardo's life: from his early childhood to his apprenticeship with Verrocchio and then the setting up of his own workshop in Florence, before leaving for Milan where his patron was Ludovico Sforza ('Il Moro' — the Moor). Packed with information about Leonardo's style of painting and drawing, as well as his work as a civil and military engineer, the book combines chapters on Leonardo's life with themed chapters that look at his inventions and key works, including such well-known paintings as the Mona Lisa and the Last supper. It is augmented by the inclusion of 15 facsimile documents such as: numerous extracts from Leonardo's notebooks showing his famous 'mirror' writing and various sketches for inventions and studies for his works done from nature; Leonardo's letter to Ludovico Sforza; Leonardo's map of Imola; and, Leonardo's study of the organs and vascular system of a woman.