The quintessential American documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns, has turned his attention away from his usual subjects to focus on one of history’s most renowned figures—Leonardo da Vinci. In a surprising move, Burns has created his first non-American documentary, a two-part, four-hour series that delves deep into the life and work of the renowned 15th-century Italian polymath.
“He may be the person of the last millennium,” Burns declares, highlighting the sheer breadth and depth of Da Vinci’s accomplishments across art, science, engineering, and philosophy. From the Mona Lisa to his visionary designs for flying machines, Da Vinci’s genius spanned disciplines in a way that was centuries ahead of his time.
Dragged kicks and screaming Burns admits that he was initially resistant to the idea of making a film about a non-American subject. “A dinner conversation with biographer Walter Isaacson, who had written a book on Da Vinci, dragged me kicking and screaming to it,” he recalls.
Isaacson pressed Burns to consider the parallels between Da Vinci and another of Burns’ subjects, Benjamin Franklin, arguing that both were “scientists; they’re both artists; they’re both the most captivating figures of their age.” Ultimately, it was Burns’ own daughter and son-in-law, who serve as co-directors, who convinced him to take on the project.
Demystifying a genius Burns’ documentary aims to demystify Da Vinci, moving beyond the classic “tortured artist” trope to reveal a more well-rounded and even sociable individual. “It was important for us to rip the beard off the Gandalf figure that comes down to us as this almost wizardy alchemist, when in fact he is an extraordinarily friendly person,” says Burns.
The film delves into Da Vinci’s personal life, including his likely homosexuality, as well as his rivalries with contemporaries like Michelangelo. However, the film primarily concentrates on his remarkable accomplishments, ranging from his innovative approach to art to his groundbreaking scientific discoveries, many of which were centuries ahead of their respective times.
A departure from the norm To capture the full breadth of Da Vinci’s genius, Burns and his team had to depart from their typical documentary style, which often relies heavily on archived footage. Instead, the film employs animations, split screens, and a lyrical visual style to convey Da Vinci’s lateral thinking and the interconnectedness of his diverse pursuits.
“He’s also the most curious,” Burns says of his subject, emphasizing that Da Vinci’s relentless curiosity and refusal to see disciplines as separate is his greatest lesson for modern audiences. Burns urges everyone to strive for improvement, cultivate curiosity, explore deeper questions, and remain awake to the wonders of life.
With Leonardo da Vinci, Burns has delivered a compelling portrait of a truly remarkable individual whose influence continues to reverberate across the centuries. As the filmmaker puts it, Da Vinci may well be “the person of the last millennium”—a fitting subject for his first foray outside of American history.