Codex Atlanticus (F0033)
Leonardo da Vinci·1485
Historical Context
Codex Atlanticus (F0033), drawn around 1485 when Leonardo was in Milan at the court of Ludovico Sforza, belongs to his systematic investigation of engineering and natural philosophy that ran alongside his painting production. The Codex Atlanticus — named for the large atlante format of the sheets — is the largest collection of Leonardo's drawings and notes, covering subjects from military engineering to hydraulics, from anatomy to botany. This sheet belongs to his investigation of mechanical and natural forces, his drawings combining aesthetic beauty with scientific rigor in the characteristic manner that makes his notebooks among the most remarkable documents of human intelligence ever produced.
Technical Analysis
Oil on canvas, the work demonstrates Leonardo da Vinci's skilled technique and careful observation. The composition is carefully structured to balance visual elements, while the handling of light and color creates atmospheric coherence across the picture surface.
![Ginevra de' Benci [obverse] by Leonardo da Vinci](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ginevra_de'_Benci_-_National_Gallery_of_Art.jpg&width=600)
![Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse] by Leonardo da Vinci](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Leonardo_da_Vinci_-_Wreath_of_Laurel%2C_Palm%2C_and_Juniper_with_a_Scroll_inscribed_Virtutem_Forum_Decorat_(reverse)_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg&width=600)
