[.ca] The Da Vinci Notebooks (ISBN 1559707992)

Da Vinci was a genius before his time:
Leonardo was born in the Tuscan town of Vinci on April 15, 1452. He was a scientist before there was science, an inventor whose ideas outstripped the technology of his time, and a famous artist who produced the most valuable and recognized painting in the world. His career was one in which he would create some of the most famous paintings in the world, including perhaps the most-widely recognized and most highly valuable painting of all time, the Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci was more than just an artist, however. He was also interested in science, anatomy and architecture. His sketchbooks, filled with his ideas for inventions, stunned the world when they were found centuries after his death. Leonardo recorded his observations about nature, architecture and anatomy into his sketchbooks. Apparently Leonardo started keeping a sketchbook to improve the quality of his paintings. He would dissect human and animal bodies to better understand how the muscles and bones inside shaped the skin. His books contained almost 200 carefully-drawn anatomical pictures of the human body. He also went into the countryside and studied the features of plants and the geology of rocks, recording them in his sketchbook. These fine details later emerged in some of his most famous paintings. Over his career, though, these sketchbooks became more than just ways to improve his art. They were filled with pictures and notes attesting to Leonardo's wide variety of interests and his depth of understanding. Many of the pages included ideas for inventions. Some were improvements to existing machines, others were wholly new and ranged from a primitive tank to a human powered flying machine. Leonado spent his last few years in comfort. His duties for the King were light and they would spend long hours in conversation. He stayed in the King's service until his death on May 2, 1519 at the age of 67. Help raise awareness; support cancer research!

Da Vinci was a genius before his time:
Leonardo was born in the Tuscan town of Vinci on April 15, 1452. He was a scientist before there was science, an inventor whose ideas outstripped the technology of his time, and a famous artist who produced the most valuable and recognized painting in the world. His career was one in which he would create some of the most famous paintings in the world, including perhaps the most-widely recognized and most highly valuable painting of all time, the Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci was more than just an artist, however. He was also interested in science, anatomy and architecture. His sketchbooks, filled with his ideas for inventions, stunned the world when they were found centuries after his death. Leonardo recorded his observations about nature, architecture and anatomy into his sketchbooks. Apparently Leonardo started keeping a sketchbook to improve the quality of his paintings. He would dissect human and animal bodies to better understand how the muscles and bones inside shaped the skin. His books contained almost 200 carefully-drawn anatomical pictures of the human body. He also went into the countryside and studied the features of plants and the geology of rocks, recording them in his sketchbook. These fine details later emerged in some of his most famous paintings. Over his career, though, these sketchbooks became more than just ways to improve his art. They were filled with pictures and notes attesting to Leonardo's wide variety of interests and his depth of understanding. Many of the pages included ideas for inventions. Some were improvements to existing machines, others were wholly new and ranged from a primitive tank to a human powered flying machine. Leonado spent his last few years in comfort. His duties for the King were light and they would spend long hours in conversation. He stayed in the King's service until his death on May 2, 1519 at the age of 67. Help raise awareness; support cancer research!