Visions of the End of the World

work by Leonardo da Vinci

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July 14, 2026

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Leonardo da Vinci's "Visions of the End of the World" series, created around 1517-1518, represents the pinnacle of his imaginative power, blending reason and fantasy. These drawings depict cosmic forces manifesting in natural phenomena like storms and cloud formations. Leonardo observed the swirling of water and air, the shapes of boulders, and plant growth, translating these observations into grand visions of the world splitting apart. Despite the apocalyptic imagery, his work suggests that even in destruction, the fundamental laws of order, harmony, and proportion that governed creation remain evident. These "visions" are considered the last and most original expressions of Leonardo's art, showcasing his profound understanding of nature's underlying principles.1

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Leonardo da Vinci
Visions of the End of the World and other late artworks
…series of pictorial sketches, called Visions of the End of the World (c. 1517–18). There Leonardo’s power of imagination—born of reason and fantasy—attained its highest level. Leonardo suggested that the immaterial forces in the cosmos, invisible in themselves, appear in the material things they set in motion. What he had…
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…series of pictorial sketches, called Visions of the End of the World (c. 1517–18). There Leonardo’s power of imagination—born of reason and fantasy—attained its highest level. Leonardo suggested that the immaterial forces in the cosmos, invisible in themselves, appear in the material things they set in motion. What he had…
Read More