Leonardo is the greatest, most multi-faceted and most mysterious of all Renaissance artists, but extraordinarily, considering his enormous reputation, this is the first full-length biography in English for several decades.

In April 1478, a plot to murder the two heads of the powerful Medici family miscarried dramatically in the cathedral of Florence. A bloodbath followed in reprisal. All Italy was affected as it emerged that the Pope, the King of Naples and the Duke of Urbino were deeply implicated in the plot.

By examining the seven essential aspects of Da Vinci's way of thinking, this guidebook gives you the tools you need to enhance aptitude in every area of your life. Numerous exercises, anecdotes and illustrations help you master these techniques to create a personal and professional renaissance of your very own.

The classic international bestseller -- a marvellously exciting and stimulating look at the emergence and development of Western civilisation

This selection offers a cross-section from the 6,000 surviving sheets that constitute Leonardo's notebooks, including his thoughts on landscape, optics, anatomy, architecture, sculpture, and painting. Fully updated, this new edition includes some 70 line drawings and a Preface by Leonardo expert Martin Kemp.