Leonardo Da Vinci's Treatise of Painting

"Richard Pooler has produced an interesting and well-written account of a puzzling aspect of art history: what did Leonardo da Vinci intend to be the future of his notes on painting? That he was attempting to codify and explore the science of painting seems evident but, without a clear understanding of sequence and the tenor of his remarks, it is not possible to be sure. Added to this is the tenuous nature of the survival of what has come to be known as the Treatise on Painting: much has been lost or, at least, may still be hidden in other manuscript collections. Several people have tried to assemble and suggest a logical sequence for what remains, attempting to provide coherence to the insights that Leonardo offers -- and, yet, the mystery remains.

This text is intended for a reader with an interest but not necessarily a deep research background. Pooler is careful to provide sufficient background so that one can appreciate the turbulent history through which Leonardo, his thoughts and the manuscripts, have passed: chance, mendacity and scholarship have each played a role. That anything has survived is, perhaps, the greatest miracle: in this book, we have a clear account."

Peter G. Underwood

Emeritus Professor

University of Cape Town