Since the first edition of this volume, over two hundred new books and studies on the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci have come to light. The most important of these are examined here. [...]

In the "large" edition of this book, which was published in 2003, I attempted to examine issues specifically related to the function of Leonardo's works, their significance for each genre they belong to, and their political iconographic symbolism. I have adopted the same approach in various other essays of mine over the past three years (Zollner 2003; 2005 a). Finally, the basic idea that Leonardo da Vinci was a pre-modern artist-craftsman who struggled almost his entire life for the autonomy of his art is the subject of another essay (Zollner 2005 b).

In conclusion, I must mention the increasing attempts that have been made, especially in recent years, to attribute second and third-rate paintings to Leonardo's hand. In this regard, I note that the list of Leonardo's paintings presented in this volume is definitive. Although works that originated from Leonardo's students may circulate in the art market, the likelihood of finding an original work by his hand is minimal. The last genuine painting by Leonardo sold on the open market was the "Portrait of Ginevra de' Benci" - and it will remain the last for a long time to come.

(from the preface by Frank Zöllner, Leipzig, March 2007)