Leonardo da Vinci: A Study in Psychosexuality is a psychological biography by Sigmund Freud, published in 1910. In this work, Freud applies his psychoanalytic theories to explore the life and personality of the Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci.
Freud focuses on Leonardo’s childhood, particularly his relationship with his mother and his illegitimate birth, suggesting that these factors influenced his personality and creative output. Freud interprets Leonardo’s artistic and scientific pursuits as sublimations of his repressed sexual desires, particularly his fascination with flight and his androgynous figures, such as the Mona Lisa and St. John the Baptist.
Freud’s analysis is based on Leonardo’s diaries, paintings, and historical accounts, though some of his interpretations have been criticized for relying on speculative or inaccurate information. Despite its controversial and often debated conclusions, the book remains a significant early attempt to apply psychoanalytic theory to the study of historical figures and artistic creativity. It offers a unique, if contentious, perspective on one of history’s greatest minds.
