Fossils
"The shells, oysters and other similar animals which originate in sea-mud, bear witness to the changes of the earth…Great rivers always run turbid…and this wearing disturbs the face of the strata made by...
The eye
"The eye, the function of which is so clearly demonstrated by experience, has been defined until the present time by a great many authors in a certain way – but I find it to be completely different."
Flight
"...the first memory of my childhood is that it seemed to me, when I was in my cradle, that a kite came to me, and opened my mouth with its tail, and struck me several times with its tail inside my lips..."
Divine proportions
“Proportion is not only to be found in numbers and measures, but also in sounds, weights, intervals of time, and in every active force in existence.”
Motions of the mind
In 1435, Leon Battista Alberti in his treatise "On Painting" established a set of fundamental requirements for the creation of narrative art. The portrayal of the figure according to its inner feelings and emotional...
Leonardo and nature
Leonardo’s legacy, his notes, drawings, paintings and inventions, all illustrate a unique and special relationship with nature. They also reveal a fascinating picture of his attitude towards man and...
Paragone: painting or sculpture?
Which of the arts is best equipped to rival nature - painting or sculpture? Such a debate would probably be of little interest to a modern audience. While some of us might prefer one more than the other, most would accept that...
The vortex
Movement in water and air was Leonardo’s greatest preoccupation. As the most tangible evidence of natural force, spiraling forms and vortices held a particular fascination. Their forms pervade the entire spectrum of...