What do you think?
Rate this book
I, Leonardo
Ralph Steadman. I Leonardo. New York: Summit Books, [1983]. First American edition, first printing. Oblong quarto.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1983
4 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Steadman
153 books265 followersRalph Steadman (born Wallasey, May 15, 1936) is a British cartoonist and caricaturist.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales, Steadman attended Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan (high school), Abergele, East Ham Technical College and the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts during the 1960s, doing freelance work for Punch, Private Eye, the Daily Telegraph, The New York Times and Rolling Stone during this time.
Steadman is renowned for his political and social caricatures and cartoons and also for illustrating a number of picture books. Awards that he has won for his work include the Francis Williams Book Illustration Award for Alice in Wonderland, the American Society of Illustrators' Certificate of Merit, the W H Smith Illustration Award for I Leonardo, the Dutch Silver Paintbrush Award for Inspector Mouse, the Italian Critica in Erba Prize for That's My Dad, the BBC Design Award for postage stamps, the Black Humour Award in France, and several Designers and Art Directors Association Awards. He was voted Illustrator of the Year by the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1979.
Steadman had a long partnership with the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson, drawing pictures for several of his articles and books. He accompanied Thompson to the Kentucky Derby for an article for the magazine Scanlan's, to the Honolulu Marathon for the magazine Running, and illustrated both Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. Much of Steadman's artwork revolves around Raoul Duke-style caricatures of Thompson: bucket hats, cigarette holder and aviator sunglasses.
Steadman appears on the second disc of the Criterion Collection Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas DVD set, in a documentary called "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision", which was made by the BBC in 1978, of Thompson planning the tower and cannon that his ashes were later blasted out of. The cannon was atop a 153-ft. tower of Thompson's fist gripping a peyote button; Thompson demands that Steadman gives the fist two thumbs, "Right now."
As well as writing and illustrating his own books and Thompson's, Steadman has worked with writers including Ted Hughes and Brian Patten, and also illustrated editions of Alice In Wonderland, Treasure Island, Animal Farm and most recently, Fahrenheit 451.
Among the British public, Steadman is well known for his illustrations for the catalogues of the off-licence chain Oddbins. He also designed the labels for Flying Dog beer and Cardinal 'Spiced' Zin', which was banned in Ohio for Steadman's "disturbing" interpretation of a Catholic cardinal on its label.
Steadman also illustrates Will Self's column in The Independent newspaper. Johnny Depp's anthology of songs, "Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys" (2006) surprisingly contains two contributions from Steadman. He sings lead on "Little Boy Billee", and sings backing vocals on Eliza Carthy's song "Rolling Sea". Depp played Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Steadman currently lives with his wife in Kent, England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 18, 2016
As an ardent Leonardo da Vinci devotee, when I saw a television documentary in the mid-1980s about Ralph Steadman and his then-new book "I Leonardo", I was captivated. When I saw the book on shelves in my local bookshop, of course I purchased it! I was thrilled to say I was NOT disappointed.
Here was a moving, poignant, frequently hilarious and sometimes tragic portrayal of a genius creative whose name and works have been used and overused by generations of wannabes trying to cash in on celebrity.
Far from accusing Steadman of the same, here was the unique work of a modern artist bringing his own brand of art to the fore, illustrating a sometimes fanciful but nonetheless touching portrayal, spanning the celebrated Italian Renaissance artist-engineer's entire life.
Now over thirty years later, the book remains an appreciated addition to my bookshelf, occasionally browsed through to revisit another time, another place, but the presence of an individual whose works and life continue to resonate.
As an homage, Steadman could do no better - clearly a work of passion and a deep and abiding affection as so many inspired artists can claim.
Here was a moving, poignant, frequently hilarious and sometimes tragic portrayal of a genius creative whose name and works have been used and overused by generations of wannabes trying to cash in on celebrity.
Far from accusing Steadman of the same, here was the unique work of a modern artist bringing his own brand of art to the fore, illustrating a sometimes fanciful but nonetheless touching portrayal, spanning the celebrated Italian Renaissance artist-engineer's entire life.
Now over thirty years later, the book remains an appreciated addition to my bookshelf, occasionally browsed through to revisit another time, another place, but the presence of an individual whose works and life continue to resonate.
As an homage, Steadman could do no better - clearly a work of passion and a deep and abiding affection as so many inspired artists can claim.
Currently reading
September 17, 2013PRELUDE:
Attending four Coffee Table lectures at the moment at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (ie. AGNSW)on the subject:
"The Body In Art And Medicine."
Part of Lecture One were the illegal dissections carried out by Leonardo da Vinci and later his junior by 20 years, Michelangelo Buonarotti.
Alas, in these times "the resurrection of the body (was) an inviolable belief which preclude(d) any dissection."
It was thus the custom to dissect animals and then cogitate one's way to the human. This Galen had done over a thousand years before.
And NOTHING had changed.
No first hand observation.
Eventually the Renaissance and later, the Enlightenment would take care of this problem.
Leonardo was an early sower of their Seeds and a Chief Initiator of the New Attitudes.
TO THE BOOK:
This part of the lecture put me in mind of a wonderful gift from a wonderful friend,an illustrated text, not yet fully exploited.
So now I have begun to read this text of restrained politeness and a simple direct honesty -this being the voice of Leonardo.
The accompanying illustrations however are totally the opposite, being unrestrained flights of the imagination, inspired and magnificent.
It is ALL raucous, anarchic, exquisite and very moving, reflecting a world of outrageous cruelty, prejudice and piety,superstition, beauty and barbarity.
This is ALL the miraculous imagination and ferocious talent of Ralph Steadman, the author and illustrator.
I'M HAVING A BALL !!!!!!!
Attending four Coffee Table lectures at the moment at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (ie. AGNSW)on the subject:
"The Body In Art And Medicine."
Part of Lecture One were the illegal dissections carried out by Leonardo da Vinci and later his junior by 20 years, Michelangelo Buonarotti.
Alas, in these times "the resurrection of the body (was) an inviolable belief which preclude(d) any dissection."
It was thus the custom to dissect animals and then cogitate one's way to the human. This Galen had done over a thousand years before.
And NOTHING had changed.
No first hand observation.
Eventually the Renaissance and later, the Enlightenment would take care of this problem.
Leonardo was an early sower of their Seeds and a Chief Initiator of the New Attitudes.
TO THE BOOK:
This part of the lecture put me in mind of a wonderful gift from a wonderful friend,an illustrated text, not yet fully exploited.
So now I have begun to read this text of restrained politeness and a simple direct honesty -this being the voice of Leonardo.
The accompanying illustrations however are totally the opposite, being unrestrained flights of the imagination, inspired and magnificent.
It is ALL raucous, anarchic, exquisite and very moving, reflecting a world of outrageous cruelty, prejudice and piety,superstition, beauty and barbarity.
This is ALL the miraculous imagination and ferocious talent of Ralph Steadman, the author and illustrator.
I'M HAVING A BALL !!!!!!!
July 22, 2024
Un paseo por la vida de un genio.
September 25, 2018
Borrowed from a friend, this book provides first person commentary from Leonardo's mind. The language used is of the time, such as 'The woman was heavy with child and expired into her eighth month'.
Accompanied by full page cartoon style illustrations.
Accompanied by full page cartoon style illustrations.
November 27, 2025
El resumen de la biografía es bueno pero esta mal narrado, no tiene consistencia, no logra transmitir una clara imagen. Las ilustraciones muy regulares a mi gusto. Sirve como introducción a la historia del Renacimiento.
June 22, 2019
Wonderful illustrations laborious text.
October 7, 2025
A fictionalized biography of Leonardo da Vinci. -interesting in and of itself, but much more enjoyable because of the illustrations by the author Ralph Steadman
January 2, 2019
According to a documentary on Steadman, this book came to him as a fever dream in which Steadman is Leonardo. Told from Da Vinci's point-of-view, this funny and moving story is richly illustrated in Steadman's inimitable style. It's not Walter Isaacson, but it is a personal, heartfelt tribute from one artist to another.
Read
July 22, 2008Good!
November 14, 2007
Just can't resist the illustrations!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews