Marcus Chen
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greatest painters in the history of Western art. He is often credited as the founder of the High Renaissance. While he is strongly associated with Florence, he also has a history in Milan. Leonardo first landed in Milan in the early 1480s and spent about 22 years in the city, during which he created some of his most famous works of art. His paintings in Milan include The Last Supper, Virgin of the Rocks, and La Belle Ferronière.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Milan, Italy |
| Paintings | The Last Supper, Virgin of the Rocks, Madonna |
| Year | 1482-1499 |
| Medium | Mural painting, oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 460 cm x 880 cm (15 ft 1 in x 28 ft 10 in) |
| Technique | Tempera on gesso, pitch, and mastic |
| Subject Matter | Religious, historical |
| Style | Renaissance |
| Patron | Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan |
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What You'll Learn
The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci is strongly associated with Florence, but he also has a rich history in Milan. In fact, he spent a total of about 22 years in the city, creating some of his most famous works of art.
One of his most famous paintings, 'The Last Supper', was created in Milan between 1494 or 1495 and 1498. The mural painting was commissioned in 1495 by Ludovico Sforza (Duke of Milan) as part of a plan of renovations to the church and its convent buildings. It is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.
The painting depicts the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, as told in the Gospel of John. Specifically, it captures the moment after Jesus announces that one of his apostles will betray him, hence the "commotion" in the painting. Da Vinci's placement and movement of the central figures in this painting make it much more dynamic and interesting. The painting's handling of space, mastery of perspective, treatment of motion, and complex display of human emotion have made it one of the Western world's most recognizable paintings.
Da Vinci's experimental painting technique, in which he abandoned the traditional method of fresco painting, has made it difficult to preserve. Instead of painting on wet plaster, he painted on a poorly insulated stone wall of the monastery's dining hall, attempting to seal the completed painting when he finished. However, due to the method used, the paint failed to properly adhere to the wall, and soon after completion in 1498, it began to deteriorate. By 1517, the painting was already flaking, and over the centuries, it has undergone numerous restorations. Despite the deterioration, 'The Last Supper' is considered a masterpiece and one of the most important works of art of all time.
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Virgin of the Rocks
"Virgin of the Rocks" is the name given to two paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, both created in Milan and both nearly 2 metres (over 6 feet) high. The paintings depict the Virgin Mary and Child Jesus with the infant John the Baptist and an angel, Uriel, in a rocky setting. The paintings are oil on panel and were originally painted on wooden panels, although the Louvre version has since been transferred to canvas.
The first version, now hanging in the Louvre in Paris, is generally considered the prime version and the earlier of the two. It was painted between 1483 and 1486 and is unrestored. Most art historians agree that this version is entirely by Leonardo, although some suggest that it was painted under Leonardo's supervision, perhaps by Ambrogio de Predis. This version is also about 8cm taller than the second version.
The second version, hanging in the National Gallery in London, was restored between 2008 and 2010. It is generally believed that this version was designed by Leonardo and executed with the help of his assistants. It is dated between 1491 and 1508. Since the recent cleaning, National Gallery curator Luke Syson has argued that the quality of the work indicates that it is mostly from the hand of Leonardo.
The two paintings differ in several significant details, including the gaze and right hand of the angel, as well as minor differences in colours, lighting, flora, and the use of sfumato. The Louvre version is also the only one of the two that has a fully documented history, with the first certain record of the painting in 1625 when it was in the French royal collection.
The paintings were commissioned by the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception in 1483, with the centrepiece costing 800 Lire. Leonardo and Ambrogio later requested a further 1,200 Lire, but the Confraternity only offered them 100 Lire. The artists then petitioned Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, to intervene on their behalf.
The paintings are a good example of the qualities of the new style of the High Renaissance. In contrast to previous depictions of Mary as the queen of heaven, here she is seated on the ground, a type of representation referred to as the Madonna of Humility. Leonardo also grouped the figures within a geometric shape of a pyramid, creating an illusion of space.
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Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a church and Dominican convent in Milan, Italy. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent contains the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in the refectory.
The construction of the convent was ordered by Duke of Milan, Francesco I Sforza. It was built on the site of a prior chapel dedicated to the Marian devotion of St Mary of the Graces. The main architect, Guiniforte Solari, designed the convent, which was completed by 1469. Construction of the church took decades. The church was finished in 1482.
The Last Supper is one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous paintings. It was commissioned in 1495 by Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, for the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery. It is also known as Il Cenacolo in Italian. Da Vinci carried out exhaustive research and created many preparatory sketches for the painting. He abandoned the traditional method of fresco painting, instead painting the scene "dry" on the wall of the refectory. Traces of gold and silver foils have been found, which testify to the artist's willingness to make the figures in a much more realistic manner, including precious details. The fresco was completed in 1498, and by 1517 it was already flaking.
The site was badly damaged by bombing in 1943 during World War II, which caused the roof, the vaults, and the eastern wall to collapse. The complex has since been completely restored and renovated.
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The Vitruvian Man sketch
Leonardo da Vinci is strongly associated with Florence, but he also spent about 22 years in Milan, where he created some of his most famous works of art. One of these is the Vitruvian Man sketch, which is now in Venice.
The Vitruvian Man is a world-famous drawing, created by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1490. It depicts a man in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and simultaneously inscribed in a circle and a square. The drawing is based on the correlations of ideal human proportions with geometry described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in De Architectura. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, is accompanied by notes detailing the dimensions and proportions of the human body according to Vitruvius.
The drawing is famous for its beauty and elegance and for its detailed and accurate depiction of the human body and its proportions. It is also a highly symbolic image, with the square representing the material world and the circle representing the spiritual world. The drawing thus represents the Renaissance ideal of the harmonious fusion of man with his universe.
The Vitruvian Man is one of the most famous drawings in the world and an iconic representation of the High Renaissance art movement. It is also a testament to Leonardo's fascination with anatomy and the human body, which he studied extensively throughout his career.
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The Mona Lisa
The painting is rendered in oil on a white poplar panel and is now housed in the Louvre, Paris. It was believed to have been painted between 1503 and 1519, although Leonardo may have continued working on it as late as 1517. The painting depicts Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo, although her likeness is uncertain. The title of the painting in English, Mona Lisa, is based on the presumption that it depicts Lisa del Giocondo. In Italian, the title is Monna Lisa, with monna being a polite form of address similar to "Ma'am" or "Madam" in English. The Italian name for the painting, La Gioconda, means "happy" or "jovial" and is a pun on the feminine form of Lisa's married name, Giocondo. The French title, La Joconde, has the same meaning.
The identity of the sitter in the Mona Lisa has been the subject of much speculation and debate. Art historian Giorgio Vasari wrote that the painting depicts "Mona Lisa, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo." However, scholars and historians have suggested numerous other possibilities, including Isabella of Aragon, Cecilia Gallerani, and Caterina Sforza, among others. The painting's global fame and popularity are partly due to its theft by Vincenzo Peruggia in 1911, which generated unprecedented publicity and led to numerous cultural depictions in opera, film, and song. The painting is considered priceless, and its value is so high that it is unlikely any individual or institution could purchase it.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings in Milan include The Last Supper, Virgin of the Rocks, and La Belle Ferronière.
The Last Supper is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
The Last Supper is one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous paintings and is considered one of the most important works of art of all time. It is renowned for its innovative approach and impact on artists throughout history.
Aside from his paintings in Milan, Leonardo da Vinci is also known for his paintings Virgin of the Rocks (Louvre version), the Mona Lisa, and Saint Jerome, among others.
