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Leonardo da Vinci: the Flights of the Mind (Penguin Celebrations)
 
 
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Leonardo da Vinci: the Flights of the Mind (Penguin Celebrations) (Paperback)

by Charles Nicholl (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product Description

Peter Ackroyd, The Times
‘A splendid and encompassing biography...filled with ingenious speculations and arresting allusions’ --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Charles Saumarez Smith, Director of the National Gallery, Literary Review
'a lively, thoughtful, independent-minded and intensely enjoyable account' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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53 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Of da Vinci the painter, not of the multitalented man, 28 Jun 2005
This review is from: Leonardo Da Vinci: The Flights of the Mind (Paperback)
Nicoll manages to give a good view of the personality of Leonardo da Vinci, by describing what is known about da Vinci's childhood and then proceeding to describe his career as a *painter* in chronological order. Although in describing character Nicoll occasionally falls in depth into Freudian mumbojumbo, he has to be complemented that he does recognize that it is only fantastical speculation. The style of Nicoll is enjoyable and easy to read.
If you want to a good description of da Vinci the painter and his career, then this is the book for you. Nicoll goes in detail to the creation of many paintings of da Vinci, both those well known to general public and those less well known.
However, if you want a biography of da Vinci the multitalented man, then this book is definitely not for you. More space is given for description of a single art project that never came to be than is given to all the inventions and scientific contributions of da Vinci. As an example, Nicoll mentions that in the field of anatomy da Vinci's original contribution was greatest, and then proceeds to give six pages and two illustrations on the topic. And, unfortunately, most of these six pages is on the usefulness of the study of anatomy to a painter. More room is given to speculations about the possible identity of a female model in a painting lost hundreds of years ago than is given to the actual contribution of da Vinci to the field of anatomy. There is no description of the state of anatomical knowledge at the time and no description of how Leonardo added to this knowledge.
If you did not know anything about da Vinci before reading this book, you would finish with the impression that he was a mere painter and sculptor who never really did anything else - except dreamt of flying because of some Freudian type of childhood problem. Admittedly, paintings are perhaps the most lasting contribution of da Vinci, but they are not the reason why his figure appears in comics and novels, e.g. in Pratchett's Discworld books in disguise of Leonard da Quirm.
If the painting part was cut by 50 % and replaced by more detailed description of his other activities, this could be a very good book.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The man and his time, 18 Sep 2006
By Nikolaos "Nikolaos, London" (London, London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Leonardo Da Vinci: The Flights of the Mind (Paperback)
Superbly researched, beautifully written, this book vividly evokes the life and times of one of the truly great geniuses of all time. All the fascinating aspects of this complex man's personal life and manifold professional achievements (and failures) are described.

Strongly recommended for anyone with an interest in Da Vinci, Italian history and art or just a great biography.
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9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A struggle in places but worth the perserverence, 4 Jun 2006
By Spider Monkey (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Leonardo Da Vinci: The Flights of the Mind (Paperback)
This book is an enlightening read about a truly remarkable man. Da Vinci lived like no other man of his time and like few since. This book explores his life in great detail and although it gets a little dry at times, generally it is a fascinating and inspiring read. Worth sticking with to get a great deal out of it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

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