Leonardo da Vinci was a great artist born in 1452. He is a great multi-talented artist with expertise in painting, sculpture, architecture, music, science, mathematics, engineering, anatomy, geology, cartography and botany. His work included great master pieces. In Florence, he received training from Andrea Del Verrocchio who was a sculptor painter.
In 1482, he moved to Milan and started working as a court artist. He continues to serve as a court artist unless Milan is invaded in 1499 by France. After that he also worked in Rome and Florence. Then he moved to Chateau de Cloux at the invitation of French king. His greatest work came to an end with his death in 1519.
This was a brief intro of Leonardo da Vinci. He was a person with so many capabilities that it is impossible to summarize his work properly. To pay tribute to Leonardo da Vinci, an exhibition has been arranged in national gallery of London. The exhibition displaying the work of Leonardo da Vinci was started on 9th November, 2011 and will continue up to 5th February, 2012. It is the largest exhibition of Leonardo’s surviving paintings. The focus of exhibition is on the Leonardo’s work as a court artist in Milan.
Almost 60 finest paintings byLeonardo da Vinci and his followers have been displayed in the exhibition.All of these paintings show Leonardo’s perfection and skills in presenting human form. Some of the prominent paintings at the exhibition include:
The Portrait of a Musician:Throughout his career, Leonardo’s painted only one portrait of a man and that is “The Portrait of a Musician”. This is an unfinished portrait and seems to portray AtalanteMigiliorotti, a singer who had learned music from Leonardo. His pose, note sheet in hand and position of lips shows that he has just finished singing.
The last supper: This was the most prominent work of all that Leonardo did for LudovicoSforza as a court artist. It is not painted on any canvas. Instead Leonardo da Vinci painted it directly on the wall of Santa Maria Delle in Milan where it can also be seen today. The painting depicts the reaction of the Christ apostles when Christ announced that one of the apostles will betray him.
Saint Jerome: This is also one of the unfinished pictures by Leonardo. It portrays Saint Jerome, a 4th century scholar.The picture shows the Saint Jerome kneeling down and praying. Being a penitent hermit, Saint Jerome has been shown as about to strike his chest against the rock. Leonardo has linked the idea of spiritual suffering and reward by diagonally linking the rock and head of the Jerome. He has also shown a lion in the foreground. It is believed that Saint Jerome has removed a thorn from the paw of this lion.
Apart from the above described paintings, following are some of the Leonardo’s prominent work displayed in the exhibition. Moreover, the exhibition also displayed 33 studies and sketches taken from the royal collection.
- Saint Jerome
- The Lady with an Ermine
- Belle Ferronnière
- Virgin of the Rocks
- The Last Supper
In the exhibition, it is first time that the art lovers will get the opportunity to see both versions of Virgin of the Rocks together.