Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

The much overused word genius aptly describes only a few people in the history of civilization. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) unquestionably belongs in this elite group. Anyone who has looked in amazement at the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, or the many drawings that sprang from his fertile imagination may wonder how he accomplished these astounding works of art. Fortunately for posterity, Leonardo left his Treatise on Painting, essentially a primer for students interested in learning the craft of drawing and painting.
Even a quick perusal of this multifaceted work will reveal the great...

This classic book contains John Francis Rigaud's translation of Leonardo da Vinci's 'A Treatise on Painting'. It is not so much a guide to painting, although he has thrown in the odd piece of good advice, but is more a collection of his thoughts and an insight into what was the inspiration behind his paintings. This book is highly recommended for inclusion on the bookshelf of any fan of this great artist.

El Tratado de la pintura es una coleccion de escritos de Leonardo da Vinci que se encontraban en sus cuadernos bajo el titulo general de "En la pintura." Los manuscritos fueron reunidos por Francesco Melzi en algun momento antes de 1542 e impresos primero en frances e italiano como Trattato della pintura por Raffaelo du Fresne en 1651. El objetivo principal del tratado fue sostener que la pintura era una ciencia."

the private musings - and then published for the world - of a genius. The true Renaissance man par excellence

El Tratado de la pintura, una serie de notas de Leonardo sobre tecnicas, perspectiva, maneras de representar y discusiones en las cuales se entrelazan la ciencia y el arte, paso a manos del mas fiel discipulo del genio a su muerte. Sus descendientes no siguieron el ejemplo de atesorarlo, y el Tratado recorrio Europa mas como un fantasma que como un libro tangible. Pasarian casi dos siglos hasta que fuera debidamente publicado. El Tratado comienza con una disquisicion acerca de si la pintura es o no una ciencia, continua con toda una reflexion filosofica sobre la manera que tiene el hombre de...

A book that allow us to travel through da Vinci's thoughts and will forever shift your own thinking to an amazing perspective... "Leonardo had found a refuge in art from the pettiness of material environment. Like his own creations, he, too, had learned the secret of the inner life. The painter, he wrote, could create a world of his own, and take refuge in this new realm. But it must not be one of shadows only. The very mystery he felt so keenly had yet to rest on a real foundation; to treat it otherwise would be to plunge into mere vapouring. Although attempting to bridge the gulf which...