Leonardo da Vinci

""Leonardo moved seamlessly from the preparatory drawing for an altarpiece to the invention of a piece of equipment, and then on to the plans for a church or fortress. He drew maps, measured buildings, designed weapons and invented mechanical devices. He agonized over questions about geology, hydraulics, optics, astronomy and mathematics. And in the chaotic order of his codices he found a mode of expression befitting his personality, the perfect counterpoint to his painting."" "Engineer, scientist, philosopher, architect and painter: Leonardo da Vinci has often been described as the quintessential Renaissance man. It could be argued, however, that his universal genius, exceptional creativity and multitude of interests have ultimately hindered the fullest appreciation of his greatness as an artist." "With the support of documentary evidence and biographical data, this book reviews Leonardo's entire pictorial oeuvre - from his apprenticeship at Verrocchio's workshop to the formal perfection of the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa, and the enigmatic works of his final years."--Jacket.