Marcus Chen
The Louvre in Paris houses the largest collection of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings in the world, including five of his core works: The Virgin of the Rocks, La Belle Ferronnière, the Mona Lisa, Saint John the Baptist, and The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (also known as Saint Anne). The Louvre's concentration of masterpieces offers a unique and comprehensive immersion into the world of this Renaissance master, deepening appreciation for Da Vinci's versatility and innovation. The museum also features an array of drawings, sculptures, and paintings from the master's circle, providing an unprecedented retrospective of da Vinci's painting career and his pursuit of the science of painting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci in the Louvre | 5 |
| Names of the paintings | The Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, The Virgin of the Rocks, Saint John the Baptist, and La Belle Ferronnière |
| Year of Leonardo da Vinci's death | 1519 |
| Number of surviving manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci's notes and drawings | 11 |
| Location of the Mona Lisa | Salle des Etats (des Etats Room) |
| Location of the other four Leonardo da Vinci artworks | Great Gallery |
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What You'll Learn
The Louvre's Da Vinci collection
The Louvre in Paris holds the largest collection of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings in the world, as well as 22 drawings. The museum's collection includes five core works by the Renaissance master: The Virgin of the Rocks, La Belle Ferronnière, the Mona Lisa, Saint John the Baptist, and The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (also known as Saint Anne).
The Mona Lisa is perhaps da Vinci's most famous work and is certainly the most popular painting in the Louvre, receiving around 30,000 visitors per day. The painting is known for its mysterious subject, whose identity remains a topic of debate among art historians. The Louvre's exhibition includes an infrared reflectograph of the Mona Lisa, allowing visitors to see details that are not visible to the naked eye.
La Belle Ferronnière is another intriguing portrait in the Louvre's collection. The identity of the subject is a mystery, with suggestions ranging from Lucrezia Crivelli, a mistress of Ludovico Sforza, to Isabella of Aragon. Recent scholarship has also questioned the painting's attribution, with some experts suggesting it may be the work of a pupil or follower of Leonardo rather than the master himself.
The Louvre's collection also includes other significant works by da Vinci, such as Ginevra de' Benci and Portrait of a Musician. In addition to these finished paintings, the museum also displays several of da Vinci's drawings and unfinished works, such as Saint Jerome. The exhibition provides a comprehensive immersion into the world of this Renaissance master, showcasing his innovative techniques and enduring legacy.
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The Mona Lisa
The Louvre Museum in Paris houses five paintings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, one of the founding figures of the High Renaissance. One of these paintings is the iconic "Mona Lisa", which is often regarded as the most famous painting in the world.
The "Mona Lisa" is housed in the Salle des Etats (States Room), which is the most crowded area of the museum. Visitors often have to queue to see the painting, with each group having about 10 seconds to walk up and take a selfie with it. The painting is displayed behind protective glass, so bringing binoculars can help visitors to see the details of the artwork.
The Louvre's 2019 exhibition, marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death, did not include the "Mona Lisa". Instead, the painting was represented by an infrared reflectograph, which allows art historians and conservators to see details that are not superficially visible. The exhibition also featured a virtual reality section that explored the story behind the famous painting.
The "Mona Lisa" is one of only around eight major works universally attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, including "The Adoration of the Magi", "Saint Jerome in the Wilderness", "The Last Supper", and "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne".
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La Belle Ferronnière
"La Belle Ferronnière" is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, painted in Milan between 1490 and 1499. The painting's title, applied as early as the 17th century, identifies the sitter as the wife or daughter of an ironmonger (a ferronnier). The identity of the woman in the painting is still shrouded in mystery, with suggestions ranging from Lucrezia Crivelli, a mistress of Ludovico Sforza, to Isabella of Aragon. The majority of art historians believe it to be a portrait of the Milanese court lady Lucrezia Crivelli. However, the portrait was listed as possibly depicting Beatrice d'Este, wife of Ludovico Sforza, in the exhibition "Leonardo Da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan" at the National Gallery, London, in 2011-2012.
The painting is located in Room 710 in the Grande Galerie of the Louvre in Paris. The Louvre refers to the painting as "Portrait of a Woman, Mistakenly Called La Belle Ferronnière". This is because, in 1802-1806, painters Ingres and Lefèvre produced a widely circulated engraving that bore this title, causing some confusion among the public. The original "La Belle Ferronière" painting is hardly known today.
The painting showcases the hallmarks of Leonardo's style, including the three-quarter view portrait, the use of sfumato, and the subject’s direct, engaging gaze. The woman in the portrait wears a ferronière, a narrow headband with a jewel attached to it, worn centrally on the forehead. The painting is one of the most captivating and mysterious Renaissance works in the Louvre's collection. It is one of five paintings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci in the Louvre, alongside the Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, The Virgin of the Rocks, and Saint John the Baptist.
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Saint John the Baptist
The painting depicts Saint John the Baptist in isolation, dressed in pelts with long curly hair. The subject's enigmatic smile is reminiscent of da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa. Saint John's right hand points up towards heaven, while his left hand holds a reed cross. The pointing gesture is believed to highlight the importance of salvation through baptism, a central theme in John the Baptist's life and ministry.
The work has a notable sense of "uneasiness," as described by Kenneth Clark, who also interpreted Saint John as representing "the eternal question mark, the enigma of creation." The painting's ambiguity is further enhanced by the ambiguity of the subject's sexual identity, with a "disturbingly erotic charge," as noted by Barolsky.
The painting has a fascinating history. It was part of the French king Francis I's collection at Fontainebleau in 1542. In 1625, it was given to King Charles I of England by Louis XIII of France. After Charles's execution in 1649, his collection was sold, and the painting entered the possession of the banker Eberhard Jabach. It then passed to Cardinal Mazarin before returning to the French royal collection when it was acquired by Louis XIV in 1661 or 1662. Following the French Revolution, the painting entered the Louvre, where it remains a highlight of their renowned da Vinci collection.
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The Virgin of the Rocks
The first certain record of the Louvre painting dates from 1625, when it was in the French royal collection. It is generally accepted that this painting was produced to fulfill a commission of 1483 in Milan. It is hypothesised that this painting was privately sold by Leonardo and that the London version was painted at a later date to fill the commission. There are a number of other theories to explain the existence of two paintings. This painting is regarded as a perfect example of Leonardo's "sfumato" technique.
The two paintings show the Virgin Mary and child Jesus with the infant John the Baptist and an angel Uriel, in a rocky setting which gives the paintings their usual name. The subject of the two paintings is the adoration of the Christ child by the infant John the Baptist. This subject relates to a non-Biblical event that became part of the medieval tradition of the Holy Family’s journey into Egypt. According to legend, John was escorted to Egypt by the Archangel Uriel, and met the holy family on the road. The Louvre website refers to the angel in the painting as "Gabriel" (but the description of the painting in the Louvre still refers to Uriel). This accords with the Apocryphal gospel of John the Baptist, which describes his removal from Bethlehem as by Gabriel rather than Uriel and does not mention the meeting on the road to Egypt.
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Frequently asked questions
The Louvre's Da Vinci collection is housed in the Salle des Etats (des Etats Room) and the Great Gallery.
The Louvre houses five paintings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci: the Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, The Virgin of the Rocks, Saint John the Baptist, and La Belle Ferronnière.
Yes, the Louvre holds the largest collection of Da Vinci's paintings, as well as 22 drawings. The 2019 exhibition included unfinished works, meticulous drawings of the human body, plants, mathematical studies, and flying machines.
