The British Library has digitised a notebook of sketches by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci and published it online.
The organisation owns the genius’ ‘The Codex Arundel’ personal notebook. It is not a bound volume, but was put together after his death from loose papers of various types and sizes.
Leonardo began the first section of the notebook at Florence on 22 March 1508, but the remainder comes from different periods in Leonardo’s life. The collection of notes contains short treatises, notes and drawings on a variety of subjects from mechanics to the flight of birds. The notes are written in Italian, and in Leonardo’s characteristic mirror-writing moving from right to left.
The public can view the notebook online at the British Library website. The arrival of the manuscript available to view online for free comes in addition to the selection of highlights from ‘The Codex Arundel’ on the British Library’s site in its online gallery of virtual books, which allows visitors to leaf through the notebook, and magnify the details to see his drawings and explanations.
Leonardo’s notebooks show that as well as being an artist, he was a designer and scientist way beyond his time. He drew his visions of the aeroplane, helicopter, parachute, submarine and car. It took more than 300 years before many of his ideas were improved upon.
