‘Buy charcoal, paper… and find a human skull’: Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘to do’ list offers an odd insight into the mind of a genius

By
Rob Waugh

07:15 EST, 5 April 2012

|

07:30 EST, 5 April 2012

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A previously unseen page from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks shows that even geniuses have to write down to-do lists.

Naturally, the tasks on the painter, sculptor and scientist’s list are a little less ordinary than walking the dog or picking up the dry cleaning.

In the list, written around 1510, Leonardo reminds himself to obtain a skull, to get his books on anatomy bound, to observe the holes in the substance of the brain and describe the jaw of a crocodile.

A skull sectioned by Leonardo da Vinci, which will go on display as part of an exhibition of more than 80 pages from Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks

A skull sectioned by Leonardo da Vinci, which will go on display as part of an exhibition of more than 80 pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks

Page from Leonardo da Vinci's notebook, including his 'to do' list

Page from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook, including his ‘to do’ list

Dissection tools (detail from reverse of Leonardo's notebook page), from Leonardo da Vinci's notebook

Dissection tools (detail from reverse of Leonardo’s notebook page), from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook

More practically, the artist also reminds himself to buy chalk, charcoal and paper.

The list will go on display as part of an exhibition of more than 80 pages from his notebooks at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, from May 4.

Exhibition curator Martin Clayton said: ‘Like anyone about to undertake a journey, Leonardo is making a list of things to take with him.

‘Alongside everyday items such as shirts, stockings and a towel, he lists his anatomical tools such as forceps, a scalpel and a bone-saw.

‘Soon afterwards we know that he was dissecting corpses in the medical school of the university of Pavia, to the south of Milan, and so this packing list may have been drawn up before a journey to Pavia.

‘This page is fascinating – Leonardo often covered the pages of his notebooks with observations about anatomy, but this page gives a really personal insight into Leonardo himself.’

Leonardo is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance and was also a pioneering scientist.

The papers were probably bought by King Charles II and have been in the Royal Collection since around 1690.

A Da Vinci drawing forom 1511 of drawings of muscles of the shoulder and arm, and the bones of the foot

A Da Vinci drawing forom 1511 of drawings of muscles of the shoulder and arm, and the bones of the foot

Portrait of Leonardo attributed to Francesco Melzi, which will go on display as part of an exhibition of more than 80 pages from Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks

Portrait of Leonardo attributed to Francesco Melzi, which will go on display as part of an exhibition of more than 80 pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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he has nothing on rooney

Thats similar to my list, except for the paper, I already have paper…

” That mona lisa picture looks small and It’s really nothing special when you visit the Louvre. I’m very disappointed and think he’s very overrated. “- zola, Buenos Aires, 5/4/2012 20:37 ——- So you know more about real art than all of the countless number of artists and art experts who have highly rated him and the Mona Lisa for hundreds of years? I can imagine what sort of “art” you like.

Eat your heart out Damien Hirst. Leonardo had more talent in his little finger than you could ever achieve.

I too have seen the Mona Lisa and was astonished by it. The lady’s smile actually grows as you watch – an amazing optical illusion. Da Vinci was centuries ahead of his time.

That mona lisa picture looks small and It’s really nothing special when you visit the Louvre. I’m very disappointed and think he’s very overrated.

PS and don’t forgetta da spaghetti..

nice one geeze. on my todo lists are to write programs, appreciate what matters, and succeed.

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