Unmatched in his ingenuity, technical prowess, and curiosity, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) epitomizes the humanistic ideal of the Renaissance man: a peerless master of painting, sculpture, cartography, anatomy, architecture - and more. Simultaneously captivating art historians, collectors, and the millions who flock yearly to admire his works, Leonardo's appeal is as diffuse as were his preoccupations. His images permeate nearly every facet of Western culture - The Vitruvian Man is engraved into millions of Euro coins, The Last Supper is considered the single most reproduced religious painting in history, and the Mona Lisa has entranced countless artists and observers for centuries. This updated edition of our XL monograph is an unrivaled survey of Leonardo's life and work, including a catalogue raisonne of all paintings. Through stunning full-bleed details, we experience every measured brushstroke, each a testament to Leonardo's masterful ability. An expansive catalog of nearly 700 of Leonardo's drawings further illuminates the breadth of his pursuits. From diagrams of intricately engineered machines to portraits of plump infants, they stand reflective of his boundless and visionary technical imagination, balanced with a subtle and perceptive hand, capable of rendering quotidian moments with moving emotional timbre. For the new edition, Frank Zoellner has written a new preface in which he considers the latest scholarly findings on Leonardo's oeuvre and takes a critical look at the much-discussed painting Christ as Salvator Mundi, sold at auction for the record sum of around 400 million euros. Numerous illustrations have been replaced by new photographs.

One of the most accomplished human beings who ever lived, Leonardo da Vinci remains the quintessential Renaissance genius. Creator of the world's most famous paintings, this scientist, artist, philosopher, inventor, builder, and mechanic epitomized the great flowering of human consciousness that marks his era. As part of our Bibliotheca Universalis series, Leonardo da Vinci - The Graphic Work features top-quality reproductions of 663 of Leonardo's drawings, more than half of which reside in the Royal Collection of Windsor Castle. From anatomical studies to architectural plans, from complex engineering designs to pudgy infant portraits, delve in and delight in the delicate finesse of one of the most talented minds, and hands, in history. About the series Bibliotheca Universalis - Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe!

Par son ingeniosite, ses prouesses techniques et sa curiosite inegalees, Leonard de Vinci (1452-1519) incarne l'homme de la Renaissance selon l'ideal humaniste. Maitre accompli et incomparable en peinture, en sculpture, en cartographie, en anatomie, en architecture et dans bien d'autres domaines, il captive autant les historiens d'art que les collectionneurs et les millions de visiteurs qui se pressent chaque annee pour admirer son travail. Leonard de Vinci exerce un attrait aussi vaste que l'ont ete ses centres d'interet et son iconographie impregne presque chaque facette de la culture occidentale: L'Homme de Vitruve est grave sur des millions de pieces en euros, La Cene est consideree comme le tableau religieux le plus reproduit de l'Histoire et sa Joconde fascine d'innombrables artistes et observateurs depuis des siecles. Publiee a l'occasion du 500e anniversaire de sa mort, cette mise a jour de notre ouvrage format XL constitue une etude inegalee sur la vie et l'oeuvre de Leonard de Vinci, enrichie d'un catalogue raisonne englobant aussi ses toiles disparues. Les etonnants details presentes a fond perdu devoilent chaque coup de pinceau, dont la precision temoigne de l'incroyable talent de l'artiste ingenieur. Un catalogue exhaustif des quelque 700 dessins de Leonard de Vinci illustre l'ampleur de son activite creatrice. Schemas de machines compliquees ou portraits de cherubins dodus, ils refletent une imagination technique sans bornes, visionnaire, equilibree par une main meticuleuse et sensible, qui colore les moments banals d'une reelle emotion. Cet ouvrage inclut aussi un nouvel avant-propos de Frank Zoellner, approfondi en exclusivite pour cette edition speciale, qui decortique les derniers developpements scientifiques en date sur le travail inaugure par Leonard, ainsi que l'histoire de l'envoutant Salvator Mundi, recemment adjuge au prix record de 450 millions de dollars.