Overview
No one more completely embodies the notion of the Renaissance Man than Leonardo da Vinci. His lifetime (1452-1519) frames the heart and soul of the Italian Renaissance, one of the most remarkable periods in history. In its sweep, Leonardo's genius touched on nearly every aspect of human endeavor. Yet as Michael White argues in this fascinating and forceful new biography, da Vinci, mythic though his stature, has never been fully appreciated as one of the most remarkable scientific minds not merely of his age but of any age.
Leonardo: The First Scientist makes clear that this imbalance is due in part to an accident of history, and in part to Leonardo himself. During his lifetime Da Vinci patiently assembled a vast collection of notebooks, consisting of over 13,000 manuscript pages and containing some 1,500 exquisite anatomical drawings, in which he tirelessly detailed his observations and experiments. Suspicious of others and fearful that his ideas might be stolen, he kept his research hidden even from those closest to him. After his death, the notebooks were dispersed to private collections and libraries throughout Europe. In essence, they disappeared for over two centuries.
Those notebooks that eventually resurfaced contain Leonardo's now-legendary reflections and drawings concerning flight, optics, anatomy, astronomy and weaponry-a staggering, almost unthinkable range of subjects and interests. Indeed, as White proves, da Vinci's fifteenth-century discoveries predate and prefigure the work of later scientists, including Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton. Had they not been lost for so long, the notes might have altered the course and pace of scientific discovery. Far more than priceless artifacts and historical curios (Bill Gates bought one notebook, the so-called Hammer Codex, for $30 million in 1994), Leonardo's notebooks illuminate a mind capable of both rigorous procedure and soaring flights of imaginative thought.
Weaving together the elements of da Vinci's life and his times-his unhappy childhood, his homosexuality, his relationship with everyone from Machiavelli to Cesare Borgia to Michelangelo-White has produced an illuminating portrait of the first genius in modern science.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
It's not easy writing a biography of a legendary figure like Leonardo da Vinci, one whose life has already been well chronicled by numerous others. White (Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science, etc.) takes on this task to demonstrate that, in addition to his artistic mastery and engineering acumen, Leonardo boasted scientific advances and insights that qualify him as the first scientist. Born more than 100 years before Francis Bacon--who for his work in defining the scientific method is generally credited with this designation--Leonardo wrote about experimentation in a surprisingly modern manner. He focused his attention primarily on optics, human anatomy, flight, geography and geology, making significant advances in each field. "Quite simply, if Leonardo had chosen to concentrate upon only one of the areas of research he tackled and had even then come up with the results he did, he would still be remembered today for his genius and imagination," writes White. Sadly, virtually none of Leonardo's scientific work was published during his life and much was lost over the ensuing generations. In his scientific endeavors, as with most of his other areas of interest, Leonardo was a very private person and one who seemed unable to fully finish tasks. Although there's not much new material here, White does an amiable job of presenting Leonardo and his times in a fresh manner. 35 b&w photos. (Aug.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|KLIATT
Vegetarian, homosexual, and Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci is best known as an artist, but award-winning author Michael White chooses to focus on the scientific work of a polymath, the man who could do it all. Leonardo researched in the fields of optics, anatomy, geology and hydrology. He performed autopsies, invented or drew plans for a tank, a helicopter, a parachute, mechanized vehicles, pumps, irrigation systems, and digging machines. He discovered the phenomenon of atmospheric refraction. He also invented a special octagonal mirror that created a repeat image, a table lamp for which the intensity could be varied, folding furniture, and a set of doors that opened and closed automatically. As a military engineer, he designed an aqualung, pumps for getting water into siege towers, efficient ways to pour boiling oil on enemy troops, and techniques for dislodging attack ladders from castle walls. White presents these facts in an engaging style, dwelling on Leonardo's sexual preferences, his illegitimacy, his abandonment in early childhood by his mother, and his relationships with the great men of his age. Da Vinci and his era come alive again in this skillfully written biography. Thumbnail sketches of the major characters in Leonardo's life, a timeline, notes, and an index finish the volume. Highly recommended. Category: Science. KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2001, St. Martin's, 385p. illus. notes. index., $16.95. Ages 16 to adult. Reviewer: Janet Julian; former English Teacher, Grafton H.S., Grafton, MA SOURCE: KLIATT, March 2002 (Vol. 36, No. 2)Library Journal
Leonardo da Vinci is usually thought of as the consummate Renaissance man--the perfect blend of art and science. Yet almost all biographies focus on his accomplishments as an artist and engineer. This biography provides us with an examination of Leonardo as a man and scientist. White who has published 15 earlier works, many of which are biographies of prominent scientists (Isaac Newton; Darwin: A Life in Science), has produced a highly readable account of Leonardo's life and scientific accomplishments. The author explores Leonardo's research notebooks and discusses his subject's homosexuality and relationships to such Renaissance figures as Niccol Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia. The admiration the author has for his subject is evident, and, as a result, his book is a pleasurable read. Nicely illustrated and intended for general readers, it will also be of interest to scholars. Highly recommended for all libraries.--James Olson, Northeastern Illinois Univ., Chicago Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\-- Morey Berger, St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Library, Tucson, Arizona