With the aid of Leonardo da Vinci's note books, as well as a wide variety of sources, this biography covers the full life of the great Renaissance painter and architect. It is an account of Leonardo, both as an artist and as an individual. The book charts the artist's family background, childhood and apprenticeship, successes and failures, patronage, travels, interests and friendships. The book include b&w reproductions of paintings and sketchings by da Vinci. All surviving paintings are listed in the text, and there are family trees of Leonardo's family.

About the Author
Serge Bramly is a novelist, ethnologist, screenwriter, art critic, and historian of photography. He has published more than 20 books, including Macumba, a study of Afro-Brazilian religions; La Danse de Loup, a historical novel; and several works of art history. In 1992 he collaborated with Bettina Rheims on the book Chambre Close.

Sian Reynolds was born in Cardiff and taught at both Sussex University and Edinburgh University before serving as Chair of French at Stirling University from 1999-2004. She has translated numerous books from the French, both fiction and nonfiction, including works by crime writer Fred Vargas.

Reviews
"A considerable work of assimilative scholarship and common sense...races along merrily."-The Boston Globe.

"Bramly has dusted off the primary sources to make da Vinci a startlingly prescient, relevant figure in this exceptional biography." -- Publishers Weekly

"French novelist and biographer Bramly offers the image of a gifted, methodical, rational, emotionally simple craftsman whose personal life remains wrapped in mysteries-some intentional and others, such as the loss of his grave and many of his works, the results of time and circumstance." -- Kirkus Reviews



Book Information
ISBN 9780140231755
Author Serge Bramly
Format Paperback
Page Count 528
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 584g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 156mm * 36mm