Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon on departing from past modes to paint the Renaissance master's portrait

Ken Burns’ latest documentary is his first one exploring a non-American subject, telling the story of the live and achievements and influence of Leonardo da Vinci.

After an almost-four-hour chronological march through the highlights of Leonardo da Vinci’s career as an artist, scientist, military engineer and courtly polymath, the directors of the new two-part PBS documentary give us the short-shrift reel of the things they will touch upon only briefly or pass by with no comment.