Notebooks by Subject
Theme-based pathways through 7,200 surviving manuscript pages — cross-codex.
Body and Life
Light, Eye, and Image
Optics
Eye anatomy, camera obscura, vision theory, refraction.
Light & Shade
200+ pages of theoretical analysis behind chiaroscuro.
Linear Perspective
Geometric construction of pictorial space.
Color
Pigment notes, optical color mixing, atmospheric tone.
Art of Painting
Practical and philosophical notes on the painter’s craft.
Earth, Water, Sky
Nature of Water
Currents, waves, vortices, hydraulic systems.
Hydraulics
Canal, pump, and water-control engineering.
Geology
Strata, fossils, mountain formation, deep time.
Physical Geography
Earth-as-macrocosm and elemental cycles.
Topography
Bird’s-eye maps and terrain studies.
Landscape
Atmospheric, sketch, and pictorial landscapes.
Weather
Storms, clouds, deluge studies.
Astronomy
Earthshine, lunar reasoning, cosmological notes.
Flight, Engineering, War
Flight
Bird mechanics and aerodynamic principles.
Flying Machines
Ornithopter, glider, parachute, helical screw designs.
Inventions
Gear trains, clocks, automata, mechanical components.
Warfare
Fortifications, siege engines, military hardware.
Architectural Designs
Centrally planned churches, fortresses, urban schemes.
Sculpture & Casting
The Sforza horse and bronze-casting research.
Mind, Word, World
Mathematics
Geometry, proportion, transformations, and the squaring of curves.
Philosophy
Theory of knowledge, sense, and experience.
Bestiary
Allegorical animals and moral fables.
Botany
Plant structure, growth, and phyllotaxis.
Prophecies
Riddles, satirical predictions, and word games.
Tales & Fables
Short narrative pieces in Leonardo’s hand.
Maxims & Morals
Aphorisms on life, study, and conduct.
Letters
Drafts of correspondence, including the Sforza application.
The Student
Reading lists, self-instruction, and learning notes.