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What kinds of material are found in the Codex Atlanticus?

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The Codex Atlanticus is an extensive omnibus volume housed in the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan. It was assembled by the sculptor Pompeo Leoni during the late 16th century and is named for its large, atlas-like size.1

The material contained within the Codex Atlanticus, along with Leonardo da Vinci's other surviving codices, includes a vast array of his scientific and artistic studies. Specifically, these notebooks feature:

  • Anatomical studies1
  • Plans for various artworks1
  • Material intended for a painting treatise1
  • A model book of sketches covering both sacred and profane architecture1
  • A treatise on the elementary theory of mechanics1

These documents represent a significant portion of the more than 10,000 pages of notes and illustrations that Leonardo left behind, which constitute one of the most voluminous literary legacies of any painter in history.1