A Treatise on Painting (ePub)

Leonardo da Vinci, born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, is an iconic figure encapsulating the Renaissance man's ideal: artist, scientist, engineer, and thinker. A polymath of unparalleled stature, his oeuvre spans the realms of art with masterpieces such as the 'Mona Lisa' and 'The Last Supper', as well as scientific inquiries in anatomy, geology, and engineering, among others. His contributions to art theory are encapsulated in his treatise 'Trattato della Pittura' or 'A Treatise on Painting,' which posthumously compiled his notes and writings on the subject (da Vinci, n.d.). This collection offers insights into his understanding of proportion, perspective, and color, illustrating his belief that art was a scientific process. Leonardo's approach to art was marked by meticulous observations of nature and human anatomy, which informed the realism and emotive expressions of his paintings. His reverence for direct observation also laid the groundwork for his numerous anatomical and botanical studies. Though not widely published in his lifetime, today 'A Treatise on Painting' is acknowledged for its influence on later artists and its role in the codification of Renaissance art techniques and principles. Leonardo's literary style in his notebooks, characterized by mirrored writing and rich in metaphor and allegory, offers a window into the intellectual curiosity that propelled his lifelong quest for knowledge. While he is not traditionally considered an author, his writings have been crucial in understanding one of the most exceptional minds in history.