| Description: | Leonardo, more than any other figure, represents the Renaissance confidence in the boundless faculties of the human mind. This course will examine Leonardo's life and works in their historical contexts. It will concentrate on the analysis of his paintings, as they epitomize Leonardo's relentless quest for the knowledge of man and nature. We will consider paintings in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, with reference to Leonardo's writings from the Book on Painting, which provide indispensable interpretive keys to his masterpieces. In addition, the course will also include an analysis of Leonardo's most significant drawings, showing his elaboration of a highly articulated visual language; and an examination of the manuscripts and collections of miscellaneous papers compiled by Leonardo, who throughout his life kept records of all his research embracing every field of learning. The course will cover the breadth and variety of Leonardo's artistic and scientific interests, highlighting his ability to transfer visual analogies from one field of research to another. Finally, students will have an appreciation for the extraordinary legacy of Leonardo as an artist, scientist and inventor. |