Summer School

“Figuring and Describing”: Leonardo and the History of Anatomy

Summer School
8–10 September 2026
Biblioteca Malatestiana, Cesena

From 8 to 10 September 2026, the Biblioteca Malatestiana in Cesena will host the Summer School “Figuring and Describing”: Leonardo and the History of Anatomy.

The initiative is promoted within the framework of COST Action 24143 – LEonardo’s Codex Atlanticus and other miscellaneous Folios: A Digital Reconstruction (LEAF).

The Summer School focuses on the relationship between representation, description and scientific knowledge, taking Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical studies as a privileged point of departure for investigating the historical development of anatomical research and visualisation.

Leonardo’s work represents a particularly significant case in the history of knowledge: drawing, observation and written description are constantly intertwined, transforming the page into a space where artistic practice and scientific investigation converge.

Over three days, the Summer School will provide an opportunity to examine these relationships from different historical and disciplinary perspectives, bringing together research on Leonardo, the history of anatomy, medical culture, visual representation and the transmission of scientific knowledge.

The event is part of the activities of the LEAF COST Action, whose research is dedicated to the study and digital reconstruction of Leonardo’s Codex Atlanticus and other miscellaneous collections of his folios. Through an interdisciplinary and international network, LEAF aims to develop new tools and methodologies for reconstructing the original organisation, circulation and intellectual context of Leonardo’s manuscripts.

Event details

Event: Summer School – “Figuring and Describing”: Leonardo and the History of Anatomy
Dates: 8–10 September 2026
Venue: Biblioteca Malatestiana, Cesena, Italy
Framework: COST Action 24143 – LEonardo’s Codex Atlanticus and other miscellaneous Folios: A Digital Reconstruction (LEAF)