Lena Rivera
The painting referred to in the title of L.M. Elliott's novel 'Da Vinci's Tiger' is Ginevra de' Benci, the only surviving portrait by Leonardo da Vinci on permanent public display in the Americas. The novel is a fictionalised account of the life of Ginevra de' Benci, the subject of the painting, and the circumstances surrounding its creation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the painting | Ginevra de' Benci |
| Author | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Subject | Ginevra de' Benci |
| Type | Portrait |
| Medium | Oil on wood |
| Current location | National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. |
| Historical significance | First portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, first Italian portrait of a woman looking forward, first "psychological" portrait |
| Inspiration for the painting | Ginevra de' Benci, a poet and early feminist |
| Literary significance | Subject of the novel "Da Vinci's Tiger" by L.M. Elliott |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's subject, Ginevra de' Benci, was a poet
The painting, "Ginevra de' Benci", is a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci of the 15th-century Florentine poet Ginevra de' Benci. It is the only painting by Leonardo on public view in the Americas and is currently housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Da Vinci painted the portrait in Florence between 1474 and 1478, possibly to commemorate Ginevra's marriage to Luigi di Bernardo Niccolini at the age of 16. However, it is more likely that the painting commemorates her engagement, as wedding portraits traditionally featured the woman on the right, facing left, while the Ginevra de' Benci portrait faces right.
Ginevra de' Benci was a poet and a well-known young Florentine woman of renowned beauty and intellect. She was the daughter of a wealthy banker in Renaissance Florence and was part of an aristocratic family. She is believed to have been in her teens when she sat for the portrait, and the painting is considered a turning point in Italian Renaissance painting, representing several firsts. It was Leonardo's first portrait, his first work done exclusively in oil, and one of his first solo commissions. It was also the first Italian portrait to depict a woman facing forward and looking directly at the viewer, challenging the conventions of the time.
Ginevra's poetry and intellect attracted the attention of a circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers, including the ruling Medici family. She became the Platonic muse of the Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, who commissioned her portrait by the young Leonardo da Vinci. Bembo and Ginevra exchanged poems, and their relationship is reflected in the imagery and text on the reverse of the portrait panel. The portrait's creation may have been linked to the date of its subject's engagement or marriage, suggesting it was painted around 1474 when Ginevra wed Niccolini.
Ginevra de' Benci's poetry and personality have been a source of fascination for many, including author L.M. Elliott, who wrote the novel "Da Vinci's Tiger," inspired by the poet and her portrait. Elliott explores Ginevra's life, the historical context of 15th-century Florence, and the intimate connection between the poet and Leonardo da Vinci during the creation of the portrait. The novel also highlights the challenges Ginevra faced as a woman in a society dictated by men, her creative voice, and her artistic companionship.
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The painting is Da Vinci's first known portrait
Da Vinci's portrait of poet Ginevra de' Benci is the inspiration for the novel 'Da Vinci's Tiger' by L.M. Elliott. The painting, housed in Washington D.C.'s National Gallery of Art, is considered one of the most important pieces of art in the United States and is the only Leonardo da Vinci work on permanent display in the Americas. It is also believed to be the first portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci, then a young artist apprenticed to Andrea del Verrocchio, the renowned painter and sculptor of Florence in the 1470s.
The novel, set during the Florentine Renaissance, centres around 16-year-old Ginevra de' Benci, the subject of this famous portrait. Ginevra, a poet and lover of art, is portrayed as an early feminist who yearns to share her poetry and participate in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence. She is trapped in an arranged marriage in a male-dominated society but finds herself attracted to the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo. Bembo, struck by her beauty, introduces her to a circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers and chooses her as his Platonic muse.
Bembo commissions a portrait of Ginevra by the young Leonardo da Vinci, marking one of his first solo commissions. The painting is significant as it is the first Italian portrait to depict a woman facing forward, meeting the viewer's gaze. It is also one of the first Italian paintings to be done in oils rather than tempera, the egg-based paint favoured by Leonardo's peers. The subtleties in colour and shading that Leonardo achieved produced an enlivening luminosity in Ginevra's skin and eyes, elevating him and his followers to a higher level of artistry.
The title of the novel, "Da Vinci's Tiger," is derived from the only remaining line of Ginevra's poetry: "I beg your pardon, I am a mountain tiger." This line captures Ginevra's indomitable spirit, comparing herself to a solitary, wild animal with a strong sense of self. The novel explores the intimate connection that forms between Ginevra and Leonardo during the creative collaboration, as well as the challenges Ginevra faces in a world of exquisite art and dangerous political feuds.
"Da Vinci's Tiger" blends historical facts with the author's imagination to fill in the gaps of Ginevra's story, providing insight into what might have transpired between the artist and his subject. It offers a richly drawn portrait of Italian culture and the artistic mecca of Florence during the Renaissance, attracting history buffs and artists alike.
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The painting is the first Italian portrait to depict a woman looking forward
The painting in question is Ginevra de' Benci, a portrait of the poet by Leonardo da Vinci. It is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and is the only Leonardo da Vinci work on permanent display in the Americas.
Ginevra de' Benci is the inspiration for the book Da Vinci's Tiger by L.M. Elliott. The novel is a work of historical fiction, set in Renaissance Florence, and centres on 16-year-old Ginevra de' Benci, the subject of the painting. The novel's Ginevra is portrayed as a poet, an early feminist, and a lover of art who yearns to share her work with a creative audience. She is introduced to a circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers by the Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, who becomes her platonic love and commissions her portrait by a young Leonardo da Vinci.
The painting Ginevra de' Benci is significant for several reasons. It is Leonardo da Vinci's first portrait, his first work done exclusively in oil, and one of his first solo commissions. It is also the first Italian portrait to depict a woman looking forward, meeting the viewer's gaze. This was a notable departure from the convention of the time, which often objectified women in profile. By looking outward, Ginevra asserts herself as a person to be considered, rather than merely a symbol. This interpretation is supported by the only line of her poetry that remains: "I beg your pardon, I am a mountain tiger". The portrait is also the first to place the sitter in nature and the outside world, and it is one of the first Italian paintings to be done in oils rather than tempera, the egg-based paint favoured by Leonardo's peers.
The novel Da Vinci's Tiger explores the historical context of the painting and the people involved in its creation. It is narrated by Ginevra de' Benci, who begins the novel appearing young and naive, but is later revealed to be wise beyond her years. The book provides insight into what may have transpired between the artist and his subject and offers a rich and vivid portrayal of Italian culture during the Renaissance.
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The painting was likely commissioned by Bembo
The painting in question is likely to be "Ginevra de' Benci", a portrait of the poet Ginevra de' Benci, which is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. It is the only work by Leonardo da Vinci on permanent display in the Americas.
L.M. Elliott's 2015 historical novel, "Da Vinci's Tiger", is based on the life of Ginevra de' Benci and the creation of her portrait. In the novel, the Venetian ambassador to Florence, Bernardo Bembo, commissions a young Leonardo da Vinci to paint de' Benci's portrait. Bembo is described as a handsome newcomer who introduces de' Benci to a circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers.
There is also historical evidence to suggest that the painting was commissioned by Bembo. In the early 1990s, infrared reflectography revealed the Latin words for "Virtue and Honor", the personal creed of the Bembo family, painted onto a scroll on the back of the wood panel. These words were later covered up and replaced with a motto that directly referenced Ginevra: "Beauty adorns virtue". The similarity between the two mottos and their proximity on the canvas suggest a spiritual or emotional intimacy between Ginevra and Bembo.
However, some sources dispute that the portrait was commissioned by Bembo. One source claims that Bembo did not take the portrait with him when he returned to Venice, and that its location was lost for centuries. Another source suggests that the portrait was actually of Fioretta Gorini, a courtesan whom Bembo may have met, and that it was commissioned by Bembo as a gift for her orphan son, the future Pope Clement VII.
Overall, while the specific details of the commission are unclear, it is likely that the "Ginevra de' Benci" portrait by Leonardo da Vinci was indeed commissioned by Bernardo Bembo, possibly as a token of his affection for Ginevra.
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The novel Da Vinci's Tiger is based on the painting
L.M. Elliott's historical novel, Da Vinci's Tiger, is based on the real-life Renaissance woman, Ginevra de' Benci, the inspiration for one of Leonardo da Vinci's earliest masterpieces. The painting, also titled Ginevra de' Benci, is the only work by Leonardo on permanent display in the Americas. It is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Ginevra de' Benci is a portrait of a young and beautiful poet, the daughter of a wealthy family, who longs to share her poetry and participate in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence. However, she is trapped in an arranged marriage in a society dictated by men. The novel begins with the arrival of the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, who introduces Ginevra to a circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers. Bembo chooses her as his Platonic muse and commissions a portrait of her by the young Leonardo da Vinci.
The painting of Ginevra de' Benci is significant for several reasons. It is Leonardo's first portrait, his first work done exclusively in oil, and one of his first solo commissions. It is also the first Italian portrait to depict a woman looking forward, meeting the viewer's gaze, rather than being objectified in profile. This took courage in an age when the female gaze was deeply feared as provocative. The portrait also places Ginevra in nature and the outside world, further emphasising her individuality and personality.
The title of the novel, Da Vinci's Tiger, is derived from the only remaining line of Ginevra's poetry: "I beg your pardon, I am a mountain tiger". This line captures Ginevra's indomitable spirit and strong sense of self, reflected in the novel through her determination to pursue her creative passions and navigate the challenges of 15th-century Italian society.
In addition to exploring Ginevra's character and her relationship with Leonardo, the novel also provides insights into the artistic and cultural milieu of Renaissance Florence. It features appearances by other artists, such as Andrea del Verrocchio, Leonardo's master, and members of the influential Medici family. The novel captures the richness and complexity of the era, showcasing the interplay between art, politics, and deadly feuds.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of Da Vinci's mountain tiger painting is Ginevra de' Benci.
The subject of the painting was Ginevra de' Benci, a poet and the daughter of a wealthy family.
The painting is currently on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The mountain tiger reference comes from the only surviving line of Ginevra's poetry, in which she describes herself as a "mountain tiger", conveying a sense of indomitable spirit and strong sense of self.
The painting is executed in oil on wood and is considered a turning point in Italian Renaissance painting, as it was one of the first Italian portraits to depict a woman facing forward and engaging with the viewer's gaze.
