Leonardo Da Vinci

Rating:
Summary: "CHILD'S BOOK"?
Review: I never imagined that through a "child book" I would learn about this master-genious and moreover to be capable to comprehend the "details" about his art. I really enojoyed reading this book, I learn more about his famous paints and why they are considered pieces of art. I was motivaded to read more over the other great art's men such as Picasso or Michael Angel Buonorrati; I never thought that could be an easy way to understand this genious. I strongly recommend this book and the other series too; you can not only learn but also share with your child and encourage him to develop his talents or just enhance your "general culture" reading this great book. The talent consist in explaing complex ideas using a "simple language" that everybody can understand. There is not reason to became so sophisticated and not be able to "share" what you learn with the rest of the world. When you learn a good joke you want to tell the rest about it; it is meaningless if you just keep it for yourself...

Rating:
Summary: Leonardo Da Vinci
Review: I never imagined that through a "child book" I would learn about this master-genious and moreover to be capable to comprehend the "details" about his art. I really enojoyed reading this book, I learn more about his famous paints and why they are considered pieces of art. I was motivaded to read more over the other great art's men such as Picasso or Michael Angel Buonorrati; I never thought that could be an easy way to understand this genious. I strongly recommend this book and the other series too; you can not only learn but also share with your child and encourage him to develop his talents or just enhance your "general culture" reading this great book. The talent consist in explaing complex ideas using a "simple language" that everybody can understand. There is not reason to became so sophisticated and not be able to "share" what you learn with the rest of the world. When you learn a good joke you want to tell the rest about it; it is meaningless if you just keep it for yourself...

Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: It's not the best Da vinci book, but it has a LOT of drawings.

Rating:
Summary: The eternal genius
Review: Kenneth Clark gives an unpropogating look at Da Vinci. All too often Leonardo's name has been attached to support a variety of causes of this or that nature. Being, seemingly, irreligious and unphilosophic while being the quintessential Renassaince Man. His name is often used as a mascot to justify the ideals of this or that group of whatever. He was clearly an animal rights lover, possibly a closet Franciscan, in all probability a homosexual (although not much of an activist). Leonardo was into his thoughts and had little patience for something that was already complete in his mind. He left scores of unfinished works, and minons of angry patrons - contrary to Bornstin's book that Leonardo was in constant search of patrons - Clark says he had many unhappy patrons. Leonardo was an animal lover who hated violence (although he designed armaments of various sorts). His depth of religious devotion could be argued, but he was not irreverant, as some have claimed. Leonardo was rather Franciscan and had a fondness for animals and individuality. He was free and valued his own individualism. Other than Da Vinci's notebooks nothing much authentic comes down to us. Every other work of Leonardo has been severally retouched or destroyed, what there is left of Leonardo's work is highly speculative - what bit is in his hand ect. Clark gives a healthy, vibrant, nonproselytizing look at a genius - something anyone might find interesting.

Rating:
Summary: The best introduction to Leonardo & a compelling read
Review: Kenneth Clark's book is probably the best available introduction to Leonardo da Vinci. It is both a good biography and an insightful analysis of Leonardo's art and artistic career. The text is appropriate for both laymen and students of art history. Clark's writing is concise and extremely engaging (to the point where I would recommend reading this book for fun), but it is also intelligent and very informative, with a clear thesis that ties the vast body of matieral covered together into an easily comprehensible package. This book is slightly out of date now, but Martin Kemp's introduction and revision help to ammend for that. I particularly recommend this most recent edition as it is well-illustrated.

Rating:
Summary: The Renaissance Man
Review: Leonardo da Vinci. Probably the greatest painter, scientist, inventor, and philosopher of the High Renaissance, he changed the way we look at art and science. This book unravels all of the secrets of Leonardo, and the dark corners of his life. He considered himself a failure during his lifetime, but today, he is one of the greatest people in history. His inventions, theories, paintings, sketches, all shown in this book, and this book, there are some of his 4,500 pages of notes. This book reveals all that is known about his life today, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about Leonardo.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best on Leonardo.
Review: This excellent book focuses on Leonardo's drawings in the Royal Library at Windsor. Everyone has seen the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, but Leonardo's greatest achievments are found in his drawings. Vivid HIGH QUALITY color reproductions are accompanied by insightful commentary and historical/biographical information. The book covers the whole breadth of Leonardo's intellectual development. 100 color drawings by history's greatest draftsman, and indeed one of most powerful minds the world has ever seen. As the book says "...[Leonardo's] drawings [are] the pure expression of his genius, boundless and magnificent."
What more could one want in a book? 5/5

Rating:
Summary: "CHILD'S BOOK"?
Review: This is the best book available in English on Leonardo da Vinci. True, the book was first published several decades ago, but the art historian Martin Kemp has added footnotes that bring the text up to date. Kenneth Clark made a tremendous contribution to the study of Leonardo da Vinci with this book - Science and Technology Museum notwithstanding!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece about a great master
Review: This is THE classic monograph on Leonardo da Vinci, written with grace, sensitivity, and an incomparable knowledge of Leonardo's surviving works. Those who have read Kenneth Clark's "Civilization," or seen the TV series which he narrated, already have experienced his wit and intelligence. Clark's "Leonardo" first came out in 1939, then was reissued in 1959 and 1967, with the author's revisions. Martin Kemp's new edition brings the bibliography up to date, expands the illustrations, and provides an informative evaluation of Clark's accomplishment. Kemp is currently the world's premier Leonardo scholar. The description posted for Clark's "Leonardo" describing the book as a DK edition is for a DIFFERENT Leonardo book, not for Kenneth Clark's "Leonardo," which is a Penguin publication. I hope my review will be linked to the correct page.

Rating:
Summary: Leonardo da Vinci
Review: This iw the worst book I have yet read. While the concept of the Biography is enhanced by the plates and drawings, the foot notes don't correspond to the propper painting. The facts of his life don't even go hand in hand with Leonardos notes on himself. Other journalists and recorders of Leonardos time dictate him as being a marvelous genius in which all aspects of talent blossomed from his soul at some point in his life. If this books had any basis in researched fact it would have been reviewed by the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. And by the National Historical Preservation Society and since it has not been,. Anyone interested in - da Vinci, read for yourselves from the masters own hand writing, even if in translation. This book a pathetic fallacy on a great man.