Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and His Circle - British Collections

The volume at hand of the great National Edition of the manuscripts and drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, the so-called Leonardo Codices, consist of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings that are stored today in British collections. Important museums such as the British Museum, the National Gallery of Scotland, or the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge contain true treasures with regard to the graphic work of Leonardo da Vinci. Therefore, this volume from the unique series of complete reproductions of the manuscripts and drawings of Leonardo da Vinci offers the unique opportunity to study and get up close and personal with these precious drawings.

The Great Leonardo

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) is considered to be the most significant universal genius of the Italian Renaissance. His artistic works – the great paintings above all – are world famous to this day. From a modern perspective, his scientific activity as a gifted researcher and inventor brought about groundbreaking technology. The basis of these unbelievable complete works are nonetheless based in the graphic arts, where Leonardo distinguished himself as a true master, because the drawing is considered to be the most direct and unmitigated expression of artistic genius!

An Unbelievable Compendium

139 drawings on 120 boards present Leonardo’s graphic works in British collections. Around 70 drawings thereof originate from Leonardo himself and were wonderfully appended by sheets from his students and successors. In this way, the formative influence of the master can be directly comprehended. The drawings originate from the collections of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Oxford, National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh, the British Museum, the Courtauld Institute of Art, the National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Sketches, Studies, and Autonomous Works of Art

Motifs both profane and religious, natural-scientific and fantastic alternate in the compendium in a wonderful way. Alongside quick sketches and detailed preliminary drawings, one finds wonderfully executed boards, which could be considered stand-alone works of art. Studies of heads and portraits of old men and young, famous women, the splendid helmet of a man in armor, anatomical studies of the human body, and studies of garments and horses in motion are only a part of the range of motifs presented here!