The Codex Atlanticus

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he Codex Atlanticus is the largest collection of Leonardo’s papers ever assembled. It was put together by the sixteenth century Italian sculptor and collector Pompeo Leoni and contains Leonardo’s most spectacular drawings of technological innovations, weapons and fortifications, hydraulic devices, and vessels and flying machines.

Every aspect of Leonardo’s astonishing genius is represented, showing his abiding interest in the mechanical sciences and mathematics, in astronomy, physical geography, botany, chemistry and anatomy.

The material, totalling 1,286 items made up of sheets and fragments of all kinds and sizes, encompasses the full span of Leonardo’s productive life, from 1478 to 1518.

It also provides evidence of his artistic skills by the way the studies for paintings such as the Adoration of the Magi , the Leda and the Battle of Anghiari , including projects for the equestrian monuments of Francesco Sforza and Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, and even automatons.

In addition, there are extensive notations on the theoretical and practical aspects of painting and sculpture, on optics, perspective, the theory of light and shade, and the artists materials.

Finally, The Codex Atlanticus includes invaluable examples of the architectural and urban plans that Leonardo was not able to realise in full: from the early studies for the urban renewal of Milan to the late project of a new Medici Palace in Florence, and then to the latest vision of a new residence at Romorantin in France, which prefigures Versailles.

The Leonardo text in The Codex Atlanticus is given in diplomatic and critical transcriptions with notes, in Italian, by Augusto Marinoni, each volume of text corresponding to a volume of facsimiles.

There are twelve facsimile volumes in the set (size 440 x 603 mm) handbound in leather, with gold stamping on the spine. The matching diplomatic and critical transcription (size 214 x 298 mm) are also bound in leather with gold stamping on the spine. The Facsimile Edition is limited to 998 copies world-wide.

A General Volume is also available.

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