The book begins with Prophecies, followed by the Fables on animals, on lifeless objects, on plants, and the Studies on the Life and Habits of Animals, in which Leonardo presents a curious sequence of animals and their description. It ends with the Jests and Tales and the Final Prophecies.
Among these delightful and amusing writings, we find satires, fables, aphorisms, anecdotes, prophetic sayings, and enigmatic statements, ingeniously created or reproduced by the unique mind of Leonardo da Vinci.
Table des matières
Foreword/ The Prophecies/ Fables/ Studies on the Life/ Jests and Tales/ Final Prophecies
A propos de l’auteur
Some scholars of the life of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) reckon that most of his manuscripts have been lost, leaving about one fifth of his writings accessible to posterity. His texts were fragmented, lost, stolen, or sold by his heirs without due care or purpose – and, over the years, little was left but 28 manuscripts, named codices.
Though world-famous as a painter, Leonardo is further known as one of the most noteworthy polymaths ever produced by humankind. His aptitude for a diversity of fields of knowledge led him to compose various writings as well. Hence, their being largely unknown to the present public poses an enigma, as we can find in his words the same spark and energy that continuously nourish the creative flames of the geniuses.