Leonardo da Vinci: Flights of the Mind

Charles Nicholl writes on page 68, "What the Renaissance was, and when and why it happened, are not precisely definable." Nevertheless, Nicholl presents the theory of Constantinople's fall in 1453. Had not a Hungarian cannon maker named Urban helped Muslims in their Eastern conquests, there may not have been a reinvigoration and concentration, in Italy, of the old Greeks. Nicholl names Euclid, Ptolemy, Plato, and Aristotle. Still, none of these is a Biblical figure or a woman, the two primary areas within DaVinci's artistic legacies. As DaVinci's earliest or biggest role model, a man named Leon Battista Alberti is called, on page 69, the "first Renaissance Man". Both men, it is worth noting for the now odd barriers of that time, were illegitimate, talented, educated, and imaginative in a time not praised for its meritocracy. Alberti is an athlete. His protege is not similarly known. Still it can be said after reading a long biography by an expert researcher and communicator that many of the subject's personal qualities are hardly to be known. As a Renaissance Man, DaVinci is not rounded and fleshed. Instead his life is his highly prolific work.The story of DaVinci is presented as mystery, usually, but it can also be perceived for its chaos. Miraculously, all of this chaos surrounds Leonardo and none of it ever interferes directly with his art or the soul of his art. On page 138, the plot against the Medicis is covered. These were murderous times with murderous leaders and Popes, not to mention assassins. "Leonardo was there," says Nicholl, there to draw the hanging body of killer Bernardo di Bandino. The artist was 27. A reader would not know at this point what is to come, whether Leonardo DaVinci is about to become a scientist, a painter, a sculptor, or an accomplice. Together with the intrigue of power within Italy, as well as French invasion, I found the book a compelling page turner still basking in the glow of cultural ascension, not spoiled by dogma or militarism.On page 285, he is a scientist par excellence. "The principles of horology are an important background for Leonardo's automata [knight of armor robot], though according to Mark Rosheim, a NASA scientist who has reconstructed a working model of the robot knight, Leonardo was moving far beyond the limitations of clockwork: his programmed carriage for automata is nothing less than 'the first known example in the story of civilization of the programmable analogue computer'."Just before turning 50, on page 337, he is a tired painter living hand-to-mouth even while being sought after. It is open to interpretation, but perhaps DaVinci is many things admirable even while being "sick of painting". For one, he is not a sycophant. For another, his talent has become a curse from which we can see him withdraw, withdraw back into a weary yet modest shadow from too many critics with too many opinions, a man beyond being susceptible to anybody's proclamations. Also, he is consumed with math, including the area of circles and squares.On page 358, he is a civil and military engineer, a genius for hire. On page 410, he is returning to Florence (Milan is the other primary location) and becoming a mentor to Francesco Melzi, eventually his "guardian of the flame". On page 463, it is noted that, in the early 16th Century, Rome was a city of 50,000 people, much smaller than Milan. There were 7,000 prostitutes working with the priests.

"The cage is empty; the mind has flown." This is how Charles Nicholl ends his biography of Leonardo da Vinci. Nicholl seeks the real Leonardo, not the hagiographic Renaissance superman; indeed, while he concedes you cannot write about Leonardo without using the word "genius," he avoids it at all costs. To Nicholl, Leonardo is a complex man just like any other. Born out of wedlock, he has at best a distant relationship with his father. His career is marked more by what he does not complete than by what he does. His greatest works, The Last Supper, the Mona Lisa, and perhaps a fresco we will never see, were never completed. His insatiable curiosity constantly leads him to new projects, which will themselves be abandoned. He is private, yet theatrical, and possibly a little flamboyant.Nicholl presents a humane picture of Leonardo in a compelling, witty, gripping fashion, with moments of slight romanticism and Nicholl's own wistful reflections and longing interpretations, sometimes seeing what he admittedly wants to see.Perhaps my favorite moment in the book is a summary in which Leonardo spends on jaunts to the hills of Pisa, in conversation with Macchiavelli, and studying math with one of the great Italian Renaissance mathematicians. As Nicholl drily suggests, not a bad way to spend a summer. Inspirational to those of us who live across the ocean 500 years later.

This is the book that I wanted. It gives some idea of the man, how he thought and how he used his ideas to create. It gives you a background of his early life. There are images that give you an idea of the genius that da Vinci had and used to create. If there was one person I could meet and listen to it would be da Vinci. There is another book, How To Think Like da Vinci; but honestly I don't believe there is any possibility of that. Mr. Nicholl's brings da Vinci to life and lets me share in his thoughts and how he formed his theories. If you have gotten hooked on the Starz production of da Vinci Demons as I have and want to know more about da Vinci then this is the book you want. There isn't a piece of fiction that has held my interest as well as this book, well that is an overstatement; but you can get the idea that this is the book for you if you want to know da Vinci.

A fresh look at Leonardo, no hagiography, but well researched and informative biography. There will always be a certain mythology surrounding this person, but that doesn't matter so much anymore if you can balance it out by books like these. I am reading this on my Ereader and the only thing I am dissapointed with is the poor resolution of the images that are supplied.(And that's not even due to the publisher, I presume, but has more to do with the Kindle itself). I haven't finished reading, so I am not sure if a timeline is seperately provided. Dates, times, places, people and products/activities, perhaps a surprise when I reach the end (Haven't looked up the TOC either)

I love this book, Leonardo Da Vinci was such a creative guy and this book documents his exhibition wonderfully. With great references to sketches and painted images. If you enjoy the renaissance, this book captures a great many episodes.

I just returned from a trip to Italy and found this book fascinating. It explained so many of the things that I had seen, I wish I had read it before I went! In addition to explaining many of Leonard's paintings it goes into the history of Italy during the renaissance. Lots of stuff I wish I had learned in history class but was never taught!!! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it!!

This is one of the most tedious books I have ever read. Constant digressions about minor indiviudals who touched the life of Da Vinci, persistent psychological analyzing and a total failure to capture the ambient of the times make this a difficult book to read. Nicholl harps on Da vinci's homosexuality to no end. There's got to be a more readable book about this unique talent.

Well researched and with up-to-date information, Nicholl delivers an interesting forray into the life of a man who has become a cipher for 'genius'. There are some tasters of the general milieu Da Vinci lived in, and in general it provides a good learning experience for those who want to look behind the label and find a creative, frustrated, inquiring mind. My main difficulty with this book was really to do with the way it was written; Nicholl bases the narrative not on chronological events but on themes, and it can be rather dry at times. However, don't let that put you off, as it is very well researched. There is a problem with works like this, where there is really very little in the way of hard evidence in some areas, and Nicholl is intensely uncomfortable with supposition. I read this after finishing Peter Robb's 'M' about Caravaggio - which is a romping theoretical vision of a life and hugely entertaining. Nicholl's book is more academic - no bitten fingernails but you do get a feel for what Da Vinci was about. If you're getting this on Kindle, I would say that the images are rather small and oddly formatted. I think Leonardo would have had something to say about that....

This is a well written book about the life and works of Leonardo. It also debunks some of the myths around the maestro. Leonardo’s life was so interesting and yet mysterious. He was a public figure, like a Renaissance rock star and yet, he doesnt even have a grave!

Good service though book was slightly grubbier than expected.

Working my way through the book, it is immensely absorbing, setting the man and his achievements against the social backdrop of the time.Excellent.

In depth and colourful biography. I am transported to Leonardo's world . Highly recomended