Leonardo da Vinci and Anatomy, the Mechanics of Life

Published to coincide with the eponymous exhibition at the Château du Clos Lucé, this catalogue explores a little-known facet of the artist’s work: anatomical dissection. For thirty years, Leonardo studied the mechanics of the human body on his own in order to unravel the mystery of life. His visionary anatomical research is inseparable from his painted masterpieces, which they nourish, adding the precision of the eye to the grace of the gesture. With over fifteen previously unpublished contributions, academics and doctors are invited to reconsider Leonardo’s legacy and assess the extent of his contribution to science.