Marcus Chen
Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci is the only painting by the artist on public display in the Americas. It is housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and was acquired by the museum in 1967 for a record price of $5 million. The painting is a portrait of a young Florentine woman, Ginevra de' Benci, and was likely commissioned to commemorate her marriage. The work showcases Leonardo's mastery of the paint medium, with subtle shading, detailed foliage, and a distant gaze on the subject's face.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Painting | Ginevra de' Benci |
| Artist | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Year | 1474-78 |
| Subject | Ginevra de' Benci |
| Subject's Age at the Time | 16 |
| Subject's Background | Daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker |
| Occasion | Commemorating her upcoming marriage |
| Acquired by | National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. |
| Previous Owner | Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein |
| Year Acquired | 1967 |
| Price | $5-6 million |
| Current Location | Gallery 39 of the NGA's Neoclassical West Building |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Ginevra de' Benci' is the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in Washington, DC
- It was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in 1967
- It was purchased from the Prince of Liechtenstein for \$5-6 million
- It is a portrait of a Florentine aristocrat, likely to commemorate her marriage
- It is the only da Vinci painting on public display in the Americas
'Ginevra de' Benci' is the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in Washington, DC
"Ginevra de' Benci" is the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci that can be found in Washington, DC. It is also the only painting by the artist on public view in the Americas. The painting was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, in February 1967. It was purchased from Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, for a record price of between $5 million and $6 million.
The painting is a portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, a 15th-century Florentine aristocrat. It is believed that Leonardo 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 portrait commemorates her engagement, as wedding portraits traditionally featured the woman on the right, facing left, while this portrait shows Ginevra facing right.
Ginevra de' Benci was the teenage daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker. She was known for her intelligence and celebrated for a "platonic affair" with the Venetian Ambassador Bernardo Bembo, which inspired sonnets. Leonardo painted her quite plainly, highlighting her porcelain-like skin and curly hair, which is offset by a halo of juniper leaves, a reference to her name. The reverse side of the painting features a painted wreath of juniper, palm, and laurel, representing Ginevra's name, moral virtue, and artistic side, respectively, along with a scroll bearing the motto "Virtutem Forma Decorat" or "beauty adorns virtue".
The acquisition of "Ginevra de' Benci" by the National Gallery of Art was a significant event in the art world. It was the only Leonardo painting remaining in a private collection and was brought to the United States under a veil of secrecy, with an FBI escort using the codename "the Bird." The painting's arrival in Washington, DC, marked a turning point for the city's art scene, elevating its status as an art capital.
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It was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in 1967
The only Leonardo da Vinci painting in Washington, D.C., and the Americas, is the "Ginevra de' Benci." It was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1967. The painting was purchased from Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, for a record price of between $5 million and $6 million. At the time, it was one of the highest sums ever paid for a painting. The National Gallery of Art was founded in 1937 by Andrew Mellon, a banker, Secretary of State, and avid art collector. He donated his personal collection to form the foundation of a public national collection.
The "Ginevra de' Benci" arrived in the U.S. capital in January 1967, under a veil of secrecy and with an FBI escort. The painting was codenamed "the Bird." The National Gallery of Art had to announce the acquisition earlier than planned due to a New York Times report, and the painting was not yet ready for viewing. It was officially unveiled on March 17, 1967, the 30th anniversary of the gallery's founding.
The "Ginevra de' Benci" is a portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, a 16-year-old Florentine aristocrat and daughter of a wealthy banker. It is believed that the portrait was painted between 1474 and 1478 to commemorate her upcoming marriage. Leonardo da Vinci painted her with a distant gaze, flawless skin, and shining curls, set against a halo of juniper leaves, a play on her name, Ginevra. The painting is unique among contemporary portraits of Florentine women, as Ginevra is depicted outdoors and in simple garments without any jewels.
The "Ginevra de' Benci" is considered a prized acquisition for the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It is the only Leonardo da Vinci painting on public display in the Americas, and it remains in the gallery's collection to this day.
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It was purchased from the Prince of Liechtenstein for \$5-6 million
The only Leonardo da Vinci painting in Washington, D.C., and the Americas, is "Ginevra de' Benci," which was purchased from the Prince of Liechtenstein for $5-6 million. The painting was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in February 1967. At the time, it was a record price for a painting, and it remains one of the highest sums ever paid for a painting.
"Ginevra de' Benci" is a portrait of a young Florentine woman, Ginevra de' Benci, who was the teenage daughter of a wealthy banker. The painting is believed to have been created between 1474 and 1478, possibly to commemorate Ginevra's marriage to Luigi di Bernardo Niccolini or, more likely, her betrothal. Leonardo painted Ginevra with plain clothing and without jewels, in contrast to most Florentine women who were depicted in lavish garments.
The painting was brought to the United States under cover of secrecy, with an FBI escort, using the codename "the Bird." The National Gallery of Art was founded in 1937 by Andrew Mellon, a banker, Secretary of State, and avid art collector. Mellon donated his personal collection to form the foundation of the museum. The acquisition of "Ginevra de' Benci" was a significant addition to the gallery and helped elevate its reputation.
The painting has been described as "the National Gallery's Mona Lisa" due to its status as a portrait of a Florentine lady. However, it is an early work of Leonardo, showcasing the promise of his later career rather than the mastery of his later works. "Ginevra de' Benci" is a treasured piece, revealing Leonardo's mastery of the paint medium, with subtle shading, detailed foliage, and a distant gaze on the subject's face.
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It is a portrait of a Florentine aristocrat, likely to commemorate her marriage
"Ginevra de' Benci" is the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci on public display in the Americas. It is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The painting was acquired by the museum in 1967 from Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, for a price between $5 and $6 million. It is believed to be a portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, a 15th-century Florentine aristocrat, likely to commemorate her marriage.
Ginevra de' Benci was the teenage daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker. She was known for her intelligence and a "platonic affair" with the Venetian Ambassador Bernardo Bembo. Their mutual admiration inspired sonnets, and her beauty inspired Leonardo. The portrait was painted by Leonardo in Florence between 1474 and 1478, possibly to commemorate Ginevra's marriage to Luigi di Bernardo Niccolini at the age of 16. It is more likely, however, that it commemorates her engagement, as the portrait faces right, which was a common convention for betrothal portraits.
The painting is a small, unsigned work from Leonardo's early career. It is believed to be the only remaining Leonardo painting in a private collection before its acquisition by the National Gallery of Art. The portrait is noted for its subtle shading of Ginevra's face, the tiny spires on the horizon, and the detailed foliage on both sides of the panel. On the reverse side of the painting is a painted wreath of juniper, palm, and laurel, symbolising Ginevra's name, moral virtue, and artistic side, respectively. A scroll surrounds the wreath with the motto "Virtutem Forma Decorat", which translates to "beauty adorns virtue".
The acquisition of "Ginevra de' Benci" by the National Gallery of Art was considered a significant art deal. It was brought to the United States under secrecy with an FBI escort and the codename "the Bird". The painting was unveiled to the public on March 17, 1967, the 30th anniversary of the museum's founding. The arrival of the painting in Washington, D.C., marked a turning point for the city's art scene, bringing attention from the international art world.
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It is the only da Vinci painting on public display in the Americas
Leonardo da Vinci's "Ginevra de' Benci" is the only painting by the artist on public display in the Americas. It is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and was acquired by the museum in 1967.
The painting is a portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, a 16-year-old Florentine aristocrat and the daughter of a wealthy banker. It is believed to have been painted between 1474 and 1478, possibly to commemorate Ginevra's marriage to Luigi di Bernardo Niccolini or, more likely, her engagement. The portrait is one of the few oil paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, who painted fewer than 20 during his career.
The National Gallery of Art acquired "Ginevra de' Benci" from Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein, who sold the painting to fund an elaborate wedding for his son. The purchase price was reported to be between $5 million and $6 million, a record price for a painting at the time.
The painting arrived in the US capital under a veil of secrecy, escorted by the FBI and using the codename "the Bird." It was unveiled to the public on March 17, 1967, the 30th anniversary of the National Gallery of Art's founding.
"Ginevra de' Benci" is a treasured work that reveals da Vinci's mastery of the paint medium. The portrait is known for its subtle shading, detailed foliage, and the subject's distant gaze, flawless skin, and shining curls.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting is called "Ginevra de' Benci".
The painting is displayed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The National Gallery of Art acquired the painting in February 1967.
The exact price is unknown, but it is estimated to be around $5 million, which was one of the highest sums ever paid for a painting at the time.
Yes, the painting is currently on view in Gallery 39 of the NGA's Neoclassical West Building.
