Leonardo da Vinci: natura, bellezza, pittura. Un esame del Libro di pittura

Leonardo da Vinci: nature, beauty, painting. An examination of the Book on Painting · The article examines the relationship between painting and nature in the thought of Leonardo da Vinci and in particular in his Book on Painting. It shows how this relationship is initially based on linear perspective as a science that studies nature according to a proportional-quantitative approach, while later a qualitative approach prevails, i.e. an approach that focuses on the unique particularities of each visible form. Leonardo’s concept of beauty changes accordingly: the idea of beauty as perfect proportion is replaced by an idea of beauty as individuality and intensity. The transition from the first to the second meaning corresponds to an evolution in Leonardo’s conception of nature, which is increasingly characterised by metamorphosis and transformation, and by the predominance of continuity and homogeneity over segmentation and rigid distinction.