The life and work of the great Italian Renaissance artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) have proved endlessly fascinating for generations. In Leonardo da Vinci, Sherwin Nuland completes his 20-year quest to understand this unlettered man. The author finds clues to da Vinci’s insatiable curiosity in his art, relationships, and scientific studies — as well as in a vast quantity of notes that became widely known in the 20th century. National Book Award winner Nuland "distills one of the greatest minds ever into its pure essence . . . truly awe-inspiring" ("Time"). Illustrations.