The author of this book calls Leonardo da Vinci, born in 1452, "the most complex genius of the Renaissance and perhaps of all time.”

Wallace writes “in the more than 7,000 pages of Leonardo’s notes and drawings that survive there are no personal comments about his youth, and exceedingly few personal comments on any subject whatever.” We do know that his father recognized his son’s talent, and took him to Florence when Leonardo was 15 to apprentice in an artist’s studio. But most of what we know about him comes from the work he produced.

Most of the text of this book is about that work, with detailed analyses of each significant piece of art. Wallace also spends some time on the history and culture which affected Leonardo’s work, and which Leonardo affected in turn. He also discusses work that may or may not have been by Leonardo, and what clues suggest about their provenance.

An Appendix shows a chronology of painters of the 15th and 16th centuries.

This volume of the Time-Life Library of Art makes a great introduction to the artist. ( )

This is the best book I've read about Leo. I don't really appreciate his art but he was a character. He invented a lot of weapons and was a friend of the killer Ceasare Borgia. He seemed to like using his imagination more than production. Once he had figured out what he wanted to do, he didn't want to do it anymore. ( )

A selection of the works of Leonardo the artist, the scientist and anticipator of the modern age of technology and invention is accompanied by a text which presents and analyzes the stages of Leonardo's life and growth, including numerous quotations from his own notes and writings.

VG copy in slipcase