The da Vinci Legacy

How an Elusive 16th-Century Artist Became a Global Pop Icon

By: Jean-Pierre Isbouts, Christopher Heath Brown

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan

Virtually everyone would agree that Leonardo da Vinci was the most important artist of the High Renaissance. It was Leonardo who singlehandedly created the defining features of Western art: a realism based on subtle shading; depth using atmospheric effects; and dramatic contrasts between light and dark.

But how did Leonardo, a painter of very few works who died in obscurity in France, become the internationally renowned icon he is today, with the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper the most visited artworks in the world, attracting nearly a billion visitors each year, and Salvator Mundi selling as the most expensive artwork of all time, for nearly half a billion dollars?

This extraordinary volume is the first book to unravel these mysteries by diving deep into the art, literature, science, and politics of Europe from the Renaissance through today. It gives illuminating context to both Leonardo and his accomplishments; explores why Leonardo's fame vastly overshadowed that of his contemporaries and disciples; and ultimately reveals why despite finishing very few works, his celebrity has survived, even thrived, through five centuries of history.

©2019 Jean-Pierre Isbouts and Christopher Heath Brown (P)2019 Tantor

Amazing depth of story

What a fantastic journey. well written, Dripping of knowledge. the narrator was dry at first but I grew to enjoy as he fit the narrative well. Highly recommend.

Almost a Good Book, but…

This book was clearly written by two authors with very different levels of knowledge about Renaissance art. Chapters 1 through 3 were nearly useless, filled with shallow mentions of Italian names, dates, and paintings, offering no depth. It felt more like a poor museum leaflet than an informative book.

The narrator’s voice was grating, making the listening experience unpleasant. Things improved slightly in Chapter 4 with a focus on Michelangelo and Raphael, but even then, details were lacking. Brief mentions of Da Vinci’s studies, The Last Supper, and the Mona Lisa offered no real insight.

By chapter 9, the author shifts focus onto Cubism, Dada, Realism, and Neo-Realism, introducing artists like Dalí and Picasso. The chapter wrapped up with the end of World War II and more artist names surfacing. Dalí’s The Sacrament of the Last Supper was introduced, and the author mentioned how the Mona Lisa traveled to Washington, D.C. in the back of an ambulance and later made its way to Japan. The chapter concluded with some artistic details on Andy Warhol’s Mona Lisa, making it the most inspiring section of the book.

The book concluded without much substance, touching briefly on Da Vinci’s pop icon status and the sales of Salvator Mundi. Overall, if you want to learn more about Da Vinci’s work, this book won’t give you much more than an introduction.