From Kathleen's list on art and Italy.
This intimate biography of Leonardo made me feel like I had a front-row seat in his life and legacy. He was best known for his two paintings: The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. His genius was unparalleled and it’s easier to list what he could not do! One of the stories that I adored learning about this Master was how Leonardo layered his brushstrokes to create an almost ethereal effect on canvas. Angels were usually depicted with a halo and yet Leonardo created faces and figures that needed no adornment. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most extraordinary human beings of all time! Isaacson is a gifted storyteller, bringing this legend’s life and legacy to life through his vivid descriptions and exceptional research.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Why should I read it?
3 authors picked Leonardo Da Vinci as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
What is this book about?
The #1 New York Times bestseller from Walter Isaacson brings Leonardo da Vinci to life in this exciting new biography that is "a study in creativity: how to define it, how to achieve it...Most important, it is a powerful story of an exhilarating mind and life" (The New Yorker).
Based on thousands of pages from Leonardo da Vinci's astonishing notebooks and new discoveries about his life and work, Walter Isaacson "deftly reveals an intimate Leonardo" (San Francisco Chronicle) in a narrative that connects his art to his science. He shows how Leonardo's genius was based on skills we can improve…