Artist Egon Schiele’s first diary, written when he was a boy of 16, living in Austria, is slated for publication this month, part of Dr. Christian Bauer’s new book Egon Schiele: The Beginning.  The notebooks feature poetry to his early loves, as well as drawings and sketches from the very beginning of his career.  On one page, Schiele writes: “You rosy, enchanting creature,/ Seeing you makes my heart ache./…In a short line – I love you.” (more…)

The British Library has digitized its full collection of Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks, allowing any viewer to browse the Renaissance master’s personal manuscripts and illustrations.  Covering many years of work, the notebooks include plans, sketches, shopping lists and schematics for unfinished projects and architectural innovations.  The self-taught artist and scientist had been a prolific note-maker during his lifetime, but never took pains to publish these works in a widely readable format.   (more…)