  We retrace an ab initio relativistic derivation of Maxwell's equations that
was developed by Feynman in unpublished notes, clarifying the analogies and the
differences with analogous treatments present in the literature. Unlike the
latter, Feynman's approach stands out because it considers electromagnetic
potentials as primary, reflecting his ideas about the quantum foundations of
electromagnetism. Some considerations about the foundations of special
relativity, which are naturally suggested by this approach, are given in
appendix.
