Skip to main content

Primary sourceDocument

Thoughts on Art and Life (LibriVox audio reading)

Leonardo da Vinci

A free volunteer audio reading of Leonardo's notebook writings on art, science and life, in English translation.

The recorded text contains Leonardo's own translated thoughts, though read aloud by modern volunteers, not by him.

Ask Leonardo da Vinci about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Thoughts on Art and Life by Leonardo da Vinci, trans. Maurice Baring. LibriVox volunteer audio reading.

About this source

What it is

This is a LibriVox recording of Thoughts on Art and Life, a compilation of Leonardo da Vinci's writings translated by Maurice Baring and edited by Lewis Einstein. It was read aloud by volunteer readers and released to the public domain.

Why it matters

The recording makes Leonardo's translated ideas accessible to listeners rather than only readers. It is important to remember this is a modern reading by volunteers, not Leonardo's own voice, since no recording of him could ever exist.

Look closer

  • Why is it important to know this is a modern volunteer reading, not a historical recording?
  • How might hearing these words aloud change how you understand them, compared to reading the text?
  • What parts of Leonardo's writing seem most suited to being read aloud?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Leonardo da Vinci on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Leonardo da Vinci sources

Meet the AI Leonardo da Vinci →
Painting of a woman with long dark hair and a subtle smile, seated with her hands folded on an armrest, in front of a hazy landscape with winding paths, a river, and mountains.Painting

Primary source

Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci · c. 1503-1519

Black and white line engraving of a bearded man in a dark brimmed cap and dark cloak, turned three-quarters to the left. Below the image is the printed title LEONARDO DA VINCI, with small inscriptions in the margins.Painting

Secondary source

Leonardo da Vinci portrait line engraving by Raphael Morghen

R. Morghen

Scan of a page from a Leonardo da Vinci manuscript notebook: mirror-writing handwritten notes in brown ink, a geometric diagram of a triangle and rectangle at top, and a sketch of a catapult or siege engine with a flame at lower right.Book

Primary source

Manuscript Notebook MS B

Leonardo da Vinci

Mural painting of the Last Supper showing Jesus seated at the center of a long table with twelve disciples in groups of three on either side, with bread and dishes on the table. Coffered ceiling and windows visible in the room.Painting

Primary source

The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci · c. 1495-1498

Lantern slide of a Leonardo da Vinci architectural study sheet. Labels read 'VINCI (Leonardo da) (1452-1519)', 'Etude d'architecture', 'Dessin', and 'B 5989'. The drawing shows a domed church sketch, a semicircular plan, a rectangular church floor plan with columns, workers hauling a block with a cart, and a seated figure.Painting

Primary source

Architectural Studies

Leonardo da Vinci · c. 1500

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Leonardo da Vinci now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions