? An expert and comprehensive new reference book on the life and works of influential artist, engineer, inventor and scientist Leonardo da Vinci ? Provides a vivid and lively exploration of the artist?s personal life, travels, artistic influences and historical context in Renaissance Italy ? A gallery of Leonardo?s most significant works including his magnificent paintings and inventions as well as his many fascinating notebooks ? Explores the artist?s legacy and the great influence he had on the diverse fields of art, science and engineering ? Beautifully illustrated with 500 outstanding images This comprehensive new book is an essential volume for anyone who wants to learn more about Leonardo and to survey his greatest works in one beautifully illustrated collection. The first part contains a detailed exploration of Leonardo?s life. It details his childhood, family life and education, and then explores his interests in architecture, engineering and science as well as his career as a painter. The second part of the book contains a gallery of over 300 of Leonardo?s major paintings, drawings and designs. These superb reproductions are accompanied by thorough analysis of each artwork and its significance within the context of his life, his technique and his body of work as a whole. About the Author: Rosalind Ormiston is a researcher, lecturer and author with a wide range of interests in art, architecture and design history. Since 2002 she has been a lecturer in art and architectural history at Kingston University, London with a specialist field of Renaissance Italy. She writes for academic publications and consumer periodicals. Her published work includes The Colour Source Book; Alphonse Mucha: Masterworks; and Art Deco: The Golden Age of Graphic Art and Illustration