Stephen J. Campbell, a renowned art historian, challenges our modern understanding of Leonardo da Vinci, arguing that much of what we think we know about the Renaissance genius is built on speculation rather than fact in a new book set to release on February 4, 2025, per artnet.com.
“Da Vinci: An Untraceable Life” takes a radical departure from traditional biographies, examining the substantial gaps in our knowledge of the artist’s life rather than attempting to fill them with conjecture. Campbell, who has authored nine previous books on the Italian Renaissance, argues that these very gaps might be the key to understanding Leonardo’s true historical significance.
“While Leonardo’s notebooks fill thousands of pages, he says next to nothing about himself,” Campbell explains. “The earliest biography from the 1520s mainly lists his accomplishments, and subsequent accounts are riddled with errors and inconsistencies.”
The book challenges popular modern portrayals of Leonardo as a familiar figure – whether as a tech innovator, creative genius or cultural icon. Campbell argues that our contemporary obsession with Leonardo, from hunting for his DNA to endless speculation about the Mona Lisa, says more about our own era’s values than about the historical figure himself.
Particularly intriguing is Campbell’s exploration of Leonardo’s world of pre-modern artisans, where craftsmen became pioneers of knowledge through their experiments with materials, metallurgy, and optical theory. This context, he suggests, offers a more historically accurate lens through which to view Leonardo’s achievements than our modern cult of genius.
“What matters is how we connect the bare facts to each other, and what stories we tell with them,” Campbell notes, emphasising that while Leonardo was indeed exceptional, understanding what made him typical of his time is equally important.
The book arrives at a moment of heightened interest in Leonardo, as controversial attributions and scientific investigations of his work continue to make headlines. Campbell’s “anti-biography” promises to offer a thoughtful counterpoint to the sensationalism, inviting readers to embrace the mystery of this enigmatic figure rather than trying to solve it.
