See full version: Observing the journals of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo spent most of his life as an engineer and architect – but what can be observed from his journals is that he used his them as tool – a means to the end for mastery of the problem at hand. So regardless of which stage of life you are in – parent, student, intellectual, or soul-searching – you can and should use the journal similarly and, like da Vinci, adjust the journals with your changing interests.
It has always remained a mystery as to why Leonardo made little effort to publish his work. Was he being secretive or waiting for the right moment? here
However, I do think the observation can still bear fruits, even if you and I don’t have the intellectual gifts (or interest) to paint like him. The way he used and kept his journals, he certainly did something right, so there’s merit in trying to figure out what that was.
Let’s investigate further to examine this phenomenon.
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Rory Bremner, born in 1955, is a successful comedian that spoke openly about his ADHD on an interview with Good Morning Britain in the UK. He discussed his restlessness, hyperactivity, and disorganization, although he referred to it as “his best friend and worst enemy.” He also spoke about the importance of channelling and focusing the ADHD to turn it into a superpower. here
W hen I think about the connection between art and optimism, the first person who comes to mind is Leonardo da Vinci.
In my own work today, I get to connect with brilliant people who have this same spirit. When I meet with scientists to discuss inventing new vaccines, for example, I see in them a similar passion for learning about the world and turning their knowledge into big breakthroughs that make our lives better. That, more than anything, is the root of my optimism.
Today of course Leonardo is most famous for paintings like the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. But in his mind, Leonardo was not primarily a painter. He thought of himself as an engineer first. In a letter to the ruler of Milan listing his strengths, sent in the early 1480s, Leonardo mentioned 10 different skills—designing bridges, tunnels, chariots, and catapults, for example—before adding at the end that he could also paint. here
In 1994, he purchased Leonardo da Vinci's "Codex Leicester," a manuscript that dates back to the 16th century. He paid $30.8 million for the journal at auction, a price that made it the most expensive book ever sold. more
Before Minneapolis, the manuscript was on exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum. [links]
Gates has put the notebook out on loan to select museums this summer. Currently on view at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Codex Leicester will travel to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh on August 30. [links]