Paris Manuscripts (A–M)
Twelve Notebooks at the Institut de France
All men of genius, all who have attained distinction in the republic of letters, are French, whatever be the country which has given them birth.
— Napoleonic decree of 30 Floréal, Year IV (1796), justifying the removal of Leonardo's manuscripts to France
Overview
The Paris Manuscripts are twelve notebooks by Leonardo da Vinci, lettered A through M, currently housed at the Institut de France. They were removed from the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan in 1796 under Napoleonic decree and have remained in Paris ever since — even after the Codex Atlanticus was returned to Milan in 1815, these twelve volumes were "apparently overlooked."
On their arrival in France, the manuscripts were described by J. B. Venturi, who marked them with the lettering by which they have subsequently been distinguished. The complete facsimile with French translation was published by M. Ravaisson-Mollien in six volumes (Paris, 1880–91).
The Individual Manuscripts
Manuscript A
Physics, mechanics, and painting. Originally larger — sheets were stolen by Count Libri and sold to Lord Ashburnham (now Codex Ashburnham I at the Bibliothèque Nationale).
Manuscript B
Military architecture, flying machines, and urban planning. Originally included the appendix on bird flight (now the Codex on the Flight of Birds in Turin). Sheets were also stolen by Libri (now Codex Ashburnham II).
Manuscript C
A treatise on light and shade. Contains a note: "on the 23rd day of April 1490, I commenced this book and recommenced the horse" — the latter referring to the Sforza equestrian statue. Given to the Ambrosian Library by Cardinal Federico Borromeo.
Manuscript D
The smallest of the Paris Manuscripts. Optics and the theory of vision — the study of the eye.
Manuscript E
Mechanics, geometry, and bird flight. Includes studies of weight and movement.
Manuscript F
Water studies, optics, and geology. According to a note, commenced at Milan on September 12, 1508.
Manuscript G
Botany, optics, and the flight of birds. Studies of plant growth and phyllotaxis.
Manuscript H
Latin vocabulary, the Bestiary, and physics. Contains Leonardo's famous animal allegories and fables, as well as Latin-Italian glossaries possibly compiled for the Sforza princes.
Manuscript I
Mechanics, geometry, and natural philosophy.
Manuscript K
Three small notebooks bound together covering geometry, hydrodynamics, and anatomy.
Manuscript L
Military architecture, geometry, and topography. Small pocket notebook.
Manuscript M
Geometry, mechanics, and natural philosophy. Small pocket notebook.
The Libri Thefts
Count Guglielmo Libri, who frequently had access to the manuscripts in the early 19th century, stole parts of at least three manuscripts. From MS B he abstracted the appendix on bird flight (recovered in 1892, now in Turin). From MSS A and B he removed additional sheets, totaling 68 and 26 pages respectively, which were sold to Lord Ashburnham in 1875. These were eventually returned to France and are now in the Bibliothèque Nationale.