Leonardo da Vinci (Isaacson book)
| Company type | Biography book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Walter Isaacson |
| Products | Biography of Leonardo da Vinci |
Leonardo da Vinci is a 2017 biography authored by Walter Isaacson, a journalist, biographer, former CNN executive, and ex-president of the Aspen Institute, focusing on the Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci.
Contents
This work explores Leonardo's entire life, his artistic creations, notebooks, and contributions to fields such as mathematics, science, anatomy, along with discussions on his sexuality. Special attention is given to his notebooks while also addressing debates surrounding the attribution of La Bella Principessa and Salvator Mundi. Isaacson clarifies that the biography does not introduce new findings but concludes by drawing lessons from Leonardo’s experiences, including the principle of "being relentlessly curious." The book’s cover displays Leonardo’s portrait from the Uffizi Gallery.
Reception
Upon release in 2017, the biography reached the top position on the New York Times Best Seller list. Robin McKie of The Guardian described it as "sumptuous, elegantly written and diligently produced." Bill Gates, who owns Leonardo's Codex Leicester, commended the book for its thorough portrayal of Leonardo's diverse talents. Joshua Kim from Inside Higher Ed suggested that this biography may have influenced the record $450 million sale of Salvator Mundi in 2017.
Conversely, some reviewers expressed reservations. Jennifer Senior of the New York Times criticized Isaacson’s enthusiasm as excessive, comparing it to a teenager's excitement over a new Apple device and found the "Learning from Leonardo" section overly simplistic and reminiscent of "TED-style" platitudes. Daniel J. Levitin of the Wall Street Journal contrasted Isaacson's biography with Mike Lankford’s more detailed Becoming Leonardo, suggesting Isaacson’s felt hurried in comparison. Meanwhile, Alexander C. Kafka from the Washington Post praised Isaacson’s journalistic style for being both informed and accessible.
Film adaptation
In August 2017, Paramount secured film rights to the biography by outbidding Universal Pictures, initially planning for Leonardo DiCaprio to star as Leonardo da Vinci. That project did not proceed, and in 2023 Universal acquired the rights instead. Universal had previously adapted Isaacson’s 2011 biography of Steve Jobs into a 2015 motion picture. The director chosen for the Leonardo da Vinci film is Andrew Haigh.