Arts

Inside Leonardo’s Mind: The Codices

August 14, 2017  • Society of Fellows

In this two-part session, we will begin with an overview of the incredible world of the codices — the notebooks that Leonardo used to record thousands of observations, studies, and sketches from outside and inside his studio. We will analyze his “mysterious” handwriting and the many elements that make these pages at once a challenge to decipher and a faithful reflection of his brilliant mind. Next, we’ll take a closer look at Leonardo’s thought process by breaking into small groups and examining a few of the nearly 6,000 pages he created. Where on the blank page did the artist begin? What was the problem or idea Leonardo set out to explore? What is the relationship between word and image, and in what sequence does he use them? What can we learn about Leonardo’s analytic and creative process?