Leo Martínez
Leonardo da Vinci is widely regarded as one of the greatest painters in the history of Western art. He is also known for his work as an engineer, inventor, and military strategist. Da Vinci moved to Florence as a young man and began his artistic apprenticeship under the tutelage of Andrea del Verrocchio, a renowned Florentine painter and sculptor. While in Florence, he created several notable paintings, including The Annunciation (1478), Adoration of the Magi (1481), and his most famous work, the Mona Lisa. Da Vinci also worked on a grandiose mural of the Battle of Anghiari in the Hall of the 500, which unfortunately was abandoned due to technical issues with the paint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Paintings completed in Florence | The Annunciation, The Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist |
| Paintings completed outside Florence | The Adoration of the Magi, Saint Jerome in the Wilderness, the Louvre Virgin of the Rocks, The Last Supper, the ceiling of the Sala delle Asse, The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, Ginevra de' Benci, the Benois Madonna, the Portrait of a Musician |
| Location of training | Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, Florentine painter and sculptor |
| Leonardo's residence | Leonardo's family moved to Florence in the mid-1460s, where he apprenticed under Verrocchio from around the age of 14 |
| Other notable locations | The Uffizi Gallery, where three of da Vinci's paintings can be found; the Hall of the 500, where he was commissioned to paint a mural of the Battle of Anghiari; the Hall of Five Hundred, where he built an ingenious scaffold for the painting |
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What You'll Learn
The Mona Lisa
There has been much speculation and debate about the identity of the woman in the Mona Lisa, with scholars and historians positing numerous possibilities. While most believe it to be a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, other theories suggest it could be Isabella of Aragon, Cecilia Gallerani, or one of several other women. The Italian name for the painting, "La Gioconda", is derived from "Giocondo", the married name of Lisa del Giocondo. The title "Mona" is a polite form of address in Italian, similar to "Ma'am" or "Madam" in English.
The painting's global fame and popularity are partly due to its theft in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian museum worker, artist, and thief. The recovery of the painting in 1914 generated unprecedented publicity, leading to numerous cultural depictions, including an opera, films, and a song recorded by Nat King Cole in the 1950s. The Mona Lisa holds the Guinness World Record for the highest-known painting insurance valuation in history, valued at US$100 million in 1962, equivalent to $1 billion as of 2023.
Technically, the painting is a masterpiece. Leonardo used his sfumato technique, carefully blurring edges and contours to eliminate harsh lines and borders, giving the painting a three-dimensional presence. He also employed a novel composition, placing the horizon line at the subject's eye level, linking the figure with the landscape and adding to the painting's mysterious nature. Leonardo worked on the painting for 14 years, adding layers of translucent paint to create movement, emotion, and intricate detail.
Today, the Mona Lisa hangs behind bulletproof glass in the Louvre Museum in Paris, attracting millions of visitors each year. Its fame and cultural impact have made it an iconic symbol of the Renaissance and a testament to Leonardo da Vinci's genius.
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The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist
Leonardo da Vinci's The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist is an oil painting that dates back to c. 1501–1519. It is an unfinished masterpiece that depicts St Anne, her daughter, the Virgin Mary, and the infant Jesus holding on to a sacrificial lamb while being watched over by St John the Baptist. The painting is infused with intricate details, a lifelike portrayal of human emotions, and symbolic motifs.
The painting was created when Leonardo was a guest of the monks at the monastery of Santissima Annunziata in Florence. It was commissioned as the high altarpiece for the Church of Santissima Annunziata in Florence, likely by King Louis XII of France following the birth of his daughter in 1499. However, it was never delivered to him. The painting's theme of exploring the mother-daughter relationship between the Virgin Mary and Saint Anne was particularly close to Leonardo's heart, as he himself had two mothers—his biological mother and the wife of his father, Ser Piero, who "adopted" him.
The composition of the three figures is tightly arranged, with the Virgin Mary clearly interacting with the infant Jesus. Common motifs such as halos on the heads of biblical figures signify divinity, while Christ grappling with a lamb symbolizes his destined sacrifice for humanity. The Burlington House Cartoon is believed to be a preliminary drawing for the painting, as both works revolve around mother-daughter relationships set within nature.
In 2008, a curator at the Louvre discovered several faint sketches on the back of the painting that were very probably made by Leonardo. These included a 7-by-4-inch drawing of a horse's head, a 61⁄2-by-4-inch sketch of half a skull, and a third sketch of the infant Jesus playing with a lamb. The painting underwent a controversial restoration process in late 2011 and early 2012, with critics claiming that the cleaning process made the painting brighter than the artist had intended.
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The Annunciation
Leonardo da Vinci is known for his iconic art, science, and invention achievements during the Renaissance. He moved to Florence as a young man, where he apprenticed under the renowned Florentine painter and sculptor, Andrea del Verrocchio.
One of da Vinci's earliest paintings, 'The Annunciation', was created around 1472-1475. It depicts the biblical scene of the Archangel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary to announce that she will conceive and give birth to the son of God, Jesus Christ. The painting showcases da Vinci's mastery of light and shadow, his use of sfumato to create a soft, hazy effect, and his exploration of human anatomy and facial expressions.
'The Annunciation' is housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, where it was brought in 1867 from the Olivetan monastery of San Bartolomeo near Florence. Initially, the painting was attributed to Domenico Ghirlandaio, who, like da Vinci, studied under Verrocchio. However, certain aspects of the painting, such as the composition, the Archangel Gabriel, and the landscapes, are now believed to be pure da Vinci.
The attribution to da Vinci was presented in 1867, but debates about the specific parts he painted continued for a long time. Some anomalies in the painting, such as the Virgin's right arm appearing too long, have been attributed to da Vinci's early research into optics, considering a lateral viewpoint, and the original location of the painting over a side altar in a church.
'The Annunciation' is a significant work in da Vinci's oeuvre, as it is his earliest known commissioned painting and it demonstrates his signature innovations, including sfumato and atmospheric perspective. It reflects the cultural and intellectual richness of Florence during the Renaissance and the influence of his master, Andrea del Verrocchio.
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Adoration of the Magi
Leonardo da Vinci, the master inventor, artist, and genius, began his journey in the realm of art in Florence. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Florence thrived as a cultural centre, fostering talents like Leonardo da Vinci, who would go on to shape history.
One of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings, created during his time in Florence, is the "Adoration of the Magi". This painting, started in 1481, is an unfinished work that can be found in the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi Gallery is home to only three of da Vinci's paintings in Florence.
The "Adoration of the Magi" is a biblical scene depicting the three wise men visiting Jesus after his birth. This painting is significant as it includes a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci himself, which is a unique feature. Unfortunately, the "Adoration of the Magi" remains unfinished, a common occurrence with many of Leonardo's works. He often abandoned his paintings, frustrated with experimental techniques that did not produce the desired results.
The "Adoration of the Magi" showcases Leonardo's artistic style, characterised by his mastery of light and shadow, use of sfumato (a technique for blending colours to create a soft, hazy effect), exploration of human anatomy and facial expressions, and meticulous attention to detail. These elements are also evident in another one of his paintings, "The Annunciation", which was completed in 1478 and can also be found in the Uffizi Gallery.
Leonardo da Vinci's time in Florence was marked by his apprenticeship under the renowned Florentine painter and sculptor, Andrea del Verrocchio. It was during this period that he received his first independent commission in 1478 to paint a new altarpiece for the Chapel of St. Bernard in the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall. This early period in Florence laid the foundation for his artistic career, with the city's vibrant cultural scene fuelling his passion for art and science.
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The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci is known for his iconic art, science and invention work, and his genius is reflected in his paintings. One of his most famous works is The Last Supper, which he painted between 1494 and 1498.
Da Vinci's unique take on the placement and movement of the central figures makes the painting dynamic and interesting. His experimental technique, using tempera on gesso, pitch, and mastic, allowed for frequent revisions. However, this also made the painting hard to preserve, and today little of the original remains despite restoration attempts.
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Frequently asked questions
While in Florence, Leonardo da Vinci worked on several paintings, including the Mona Lisa, The Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, and The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist.
You can see three of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence: The Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, and his angel on Verrocchio's painting of the Baptism of Christ.
No, Leonardo da Vinci was known to leave many of his artworks unfinished. For example, his mural of the Battle of Anghiari in the Hall of the 500 was abandoned when the paint began to drip before the painting dried.
