Léonard

by Frank Zöllner

Filling notebook after notebook with sketches, inventions, and theories, Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) not only stands as one of the most exceptional draftsmen of art history, but also as a mastermind and innovator who anticipated some of the greatest discoveries of human progress, sometimes centuries before their material realization. From the smallest arteries in the human heart to the far-flung constellations of the universe, Leonardo saw nature and science as being unequivocally connected. His points of inquiry and invention spanned philosophy, anatomy, geology, and mathematics, from the laws of optics, gravitation, heat, and light to the building of a flying machine. In his painting, Leonardo steered art out of the Middle Ages with works such as The Last Supper and the world-famous La Gioconda or Mona Lisa depicting not only physical appearances, but a compelling psychological intrigue and depth which continues to draw crowds of mesmerized visitors to masterpieces in Paris, Milan, Washington, London, and Rome. This book brings together some of Leonardo’s most outstanding work to introduce a figure of infinite curiosity, feverish imagination, and sublime artistic ability, often described as having “not enough worlds for to conquer, and not enough lives for to live” (Alan Woods). About the series Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions

96 pages, Hardcover

First published July 29, 2015

About the author

Frank Zöllner (born 26 June 1956 in Bremen) is a German art historian and professor.

Zöllner studied history of art from 1977 to 1981. In 1983-1985 he was an 'Aby Warburg Fellow' in the Warburg Institute, in London. After his 1987 graduation took place at the University of Hamburg he worked from 1988 to 1992 as a research assistant at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome.

Zöllner has since 1996 been a professor of medieval and modern art history at the University of Leipzig.