Leonardo da Vinci: Under the Skin

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) created many of the most beautiful and important drawings in the history of Western art. Many of these were anatomical and became the yardstick for the early study of the human body. From their unique perspectives as artist and scientist, brothers Stephen and Michael Farthing analyse Leonardo’s drawings - which are concerned chiefly with the skeletal, cardiovascular, muscular and nervous systems - and discuss the impact they had on both art and medical understanding. Stephen Farthing has created a series of drawings in response to Leonardo, which are reproduced with commentary by Michael, who also provides a useful glossary of medical terminology. Together, they reveal how some of Leonardo’s leaps of understanding were nothing short of revolutionary and, despite some misunderstandings, the accuracy of Leonardo’s grasp. AUTHORS: Professor Stephen Farthing RA is a painter, teacher and writer on the history of art. Formerly Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, Professor Michael Farthing is a distinguished physician and researcher. SELLING POINTS: . A new examination of Leonardo da Vinci’s groundbreaking anatomical drawings . Two brothers - a painter and a doctor - discuss the artistic and scientific significance of Leonardo’s drawings, which continue to entrance over 500 years after they were made 60 colour images