Leonardo Da Vinci – 500 years on: A Portrait of History’s Greatest Artist by Matthew Landrus

This compelling and beautifully illustrated biography of Leonardo Da Vinci is a timely study of the life and astonishing achievements of a man who was a great civil and military engineer and also an extraordinary painter.

In his introduction Matthew Landrus, a specialist on the early modern history of art, sets out to demystify the man and his work for general audiences. Since there is no autobiography to draw from,  the sources available are in the main the works of Leonardo Da Vinci himself. Landrus uses time well and puts everything into the context of history and the development of early modern art as it happened.

He provides a real sense of immediacy. Apprenticed as a young boy to  Verrocchio, Leonardo quickly learnt his trade, and has been credited with a hand in the painting of the Angel in his master’s painting, The Baptism of Christ. Leonardo learnt from nature and boldly did not copy from those who went before. He left around 6000 sheets of original documents and sketches.

Throughout the work there are informative insets in blue which add to the accessible text.

Leonardo worked until, the end of his life, producing drawings and design projects even after ill health had curtailed his painting ability. In 1518 he developed a canal system and continued to be as active as possible until his death in May 1519.

He left paintings, notebooks, drawings and some vineyards, and was generous to family and even his cook. The book provides extensive further information which in particular lists collections of manuscripts, drawings and notebooks to be found all over the world. However, this work alone goes a very long way to doing justice to the great Leonardo Da Vinci.

500 Years on: A Portrait of History’s Greatest Artist by Matthew Landrus. Andre Deutsch £25.00