A Treatise on Painting
A Treatise on Painting gathers the precepts Leonardo da Vinci set down in his notebooks, as arranged by his followers and first printed in 1651. This English version, translated by John Francis Rigaud, runs to 365 short chapters grouped under drawing and proportion, anatomy, the motion and balance of figures, light and shade, perspective, color, landscape and the judgment of pictures. Leonardo tells the student what to learn first, how to remember a face, why the mirror is the painter's true master, how fat men differ from thin in their muscles, and how to make an imaginary animal look natural. A life of Leonardo and a catalog of his works introduce the text. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about A Treatise on Painting
A Treatise on Painting by Leonardo da Vinci can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read A Treatise on Painting online?
Yes. A Treatise on Painting opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is A Treatise on Painting free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of A Treatise on Painting is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is A Treatise on Painting in the public domain?
Yes. A Treatise on Painting by Leonardo da Vinci is a public-domain work, here in the translation by J. F. Rigaud. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read A Treatise on Painting?
About 4 h 50 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is A Treatise on Painting?
A Treatise on Painting by Leonardo da Vinci is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
