Rethinking Leonardo's role as a painter: from Verrocchio-style artist to precursor of the Baroque

Abstract

This essay offers a broader and more general overview of Leonardo as an artist, following recent new light shed on his biography by Carlo Vecce. From all the in-depth studies that could be conducted on specific aspects of Leonardo's work and interests, a more general, but certainly not generic, overview of Leonardo as a painter and draftsman must never be overlooked. It is indeed important to never lose sight of Leonardo's place in the history of art—and not just modern art tout court—in the history of technology and science, and to not forget that for him, initially, but not only, painting was his key to the analysis of natural phenomena and the world.