This substantial work presents the reception over the centuries of Leonardo's Treatise on painting, demonstrating the broad influence of the work on western artists from the 17th century, when
the Treatise was first published, to the end of the 19th. Written by art historians based in the US and Europe, the 21 essays are grouped into sections concerning the Treatise's reception in
Italy, France, Spain, northern Europe, England, and Greece and Slavic countries. Farrago (U. of Colorado, Boulder) contributes a lengthy introduction and a closely argued article on abridged
copies of the Treatise. Individual essays describe the use of the Treatise by individual artists, such as Rubens; specific issues concerning the translations; and the broader influence of the
Treatise on national schools. An example of the latter is the fascinating essay by Chrysa Damianaki (U. of Salento, Italy) on the impact on Greek painting of the translation of the Treatise
into Greek in the 19th century. The cumulative effect of the collection is to demonstrate the pervasive influence of Leonardo on western art in an entirely new way. The volume is well
illustrated with b&w plates of excellent quality. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
