"First published in hardback 2012 by Royal Collection Trust".-Title page verso.

Leonardo da Vinci was not only one of the leading artists of the Renaissance, he was also one of the greatest anatomists ever to have lived. He combined, to a unique degree, manual skill in dissection, analytical skill in understanding the structures he uncovered, and artistic skill in recording his results. His extraordinary campaign of dissection, conducted during the winter of 1510-11 and concentrating on the muscles and bones of the human skeleton, was recorded on the pages of a manuscript now in the Print Room of the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. These are arguably the finest anatomical drawings ever made and are extensively annotated in Leonardo's distinctive "mirror-writing", with explanations of the drawings, notes on related anatomical matters, memoranda and so on. This publication reproduces the entire manuscript, and for the first time translates all of Leonardo's copious notes on the page so that the unfolding of his thoughts may readily be followed.

"The year 2019 sees the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci.... In the Spring of 2019, selections of the finest of Leonardo's drawings will be shown simultaneously at twelve museums and galleries across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace will show 200 drawings during the Summer--the largest exhibition of Leonardo's work in almost 70 years--and many of those drawings will be displayed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh the following Winter"--Foreword.

A collection of 60 drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci, 1452-1519.

Leonardo da Vinci's drawings are among the most accomplished and technically varied ever made. Detailed study of those in the Royal Collection - the finest group in existence - reveals much about his materials and techniques and his innovative approach to drawing. This ground-breaking book explores a substantial number of Leonardo's most celebrated drawings in unprecedented detail. Using specialist microscopic photography it will open up a new understanding and appreciation of Leonardo's techniques and present new information on his materials, uncovering features invisible to the naked eye. In addition, infrared images bring to light the artist's first touches (including Leonardo's own thumbprint) and under-drawings, many of which have not been seen for 500 years --