The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci

What it is

This is an 1883 edition of Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, translated and edited by Jean Paul Richter. It presents Leonardo's writings on subjects including anatomy, science and art, with a preface discussing the difficult history of his manuscripts and works.

Why it matters

The preface notes that many of Leonardo's greatest works, such as the Sforza Monument and the Battle of Anghiari mural, were never finished, and that his notebooks remained largely unpublished and forgotten for centuries. This edition helped bring Leonardo's own words, not just his paintings, into wider study.

Look closer

• Why do you think Leonardo's manuscripts stayed unpublished for so long after his death?
• The preface quotes Vasari saying Leonardo