Leonardo Da Vinci - The Tragic Pursuit Of Perfection

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Leonardo da Vinci The Tragic Pursuit of Perfection ANTONINA VALLENTIN translated by . Tf. Vickes NEW YORK Published by Jke Viking Press 1938 LEONARDO DA VINCI TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN MANUSCRIPT Copyright 1938 by The Viking Pre Inc. SET IN BASKERVILLE AND WEISS TYPES BY THE STRATFORD PRESS PRINTED IN U. S. A. BY THE HADDON CRAFTSMEN DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD, First published in November TO VISCOUNT DABERNON TRANSLATORS NOTE The quotations in this book have unavoidably, in a few cases, been retranslated from the German version, but wherever possible they have been taken direct from the Italian. A large number of the quotations from the Codex Atlanticus have been taken bodily from the English versions in Dr. J, P. Richters Literary Works of Leonardo da Vinci, published in 1883 of which a second edition, revised and enlarged by himself and Miss Irma A. Richter, is to be issued by the Oxford University Press. These were the work of Mrs. R. C. Bell, with the occasional help of her brother Sir Edward Poynter, and are very beautifully done, as anyone may see for himself by comparing the passage on page 404, a just rebuke from Leonardo for our own times, with the Italian given in the footnote. Occasional advantage has been taken of the works of Professor E, McCurdy and Mr. Ivor B, Hart. The translator desires to ac knowledge valuable technical assistance given by Mr. Lawrence Haward, Mr. O. S Griffiths, and Mr. Arnold Bender. Thanks are due to Messrs. Ulrico Hoepli, Milan, for permission to take photo graphs from their facsimile edition of the Codex Atlanticus. E. W. D. Contents ONE The Dream of the Great Bird TWO Years of Waiting 68 THREE The Triumph ofthe Colossus FOUR One of You Shall Betray Me 189 FIVE The Unconcerned Observer 260 SIX The Great Birds Flight 310 SEVEN Man, the Work of Art BIGHT The City of Disillusion 44 CONTENTS NINE I Can Go On 496 Notes Bibliography 547 Index 553 facing page 222 illustrations IN FULL COLOUR The Last Supper Christ Saint Anne detail from the Virgin with Saint Anne 280 Mona Lisa La Gioconda 354 IN ONE COLOUR Self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci Bernardo de Bandino Baroncelli Caricatures The Benois Madonna The Annunciation Beams for overturning scaling ladders Scythed car and armoured car The Adoration of the Magi Saint Jerome Detail from the Virgin of the Rocks The Virgin of the Rocks Beatrice dEste. By Christophoro Romano FRONTISPIECE facing page 48 49 5 53 76 77 84 85 98 99 160 Xli ILLUSTRATIONS Isabella dEste facing page 1 6 1 Study for the head of Philip 2 24 Study for the head of Judas 225 Detail from the Last Supper 244 Lodovico Sforza. By Boltraffio 3545 The Virgin with Saint Anne 27 Niccolo Machiavelli. By an unknown artist 5577 Design for flying machine and wings 3 1 6 An arsenal 317 The Battle of A nghiari 33 Study of hands 333 Leda 430 Pope Leo X. By Raphael 43 1 Plant studies study of fruit and leaves 466 Anatomical studies 467 Francis I of France. By Jean Clouet 496 Charles VIII of France. By an unknown artist 497 Sam John the Baptist go8 Bacchus