by Dukgyu | Jun 1, 2022 | Leonardo da Vinci Drawings
Leonardo da Vinci Lady with an Ermine
Lady with an Ermine (click for large image)
Title: Lady with an Ermine (Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani)
Year: 1489-1491
Size: 54 x 39 cm
Medium: Oil on wood
Location: Czartoryski Museum, Cracow, Poland
The Lady with an Ermine painting is a portrait painting generally ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian Renaissance artist. Da Vinci Lady with an Ermine, which dates from 1489 to 1491, is painted in oils on a walnut wood panel. It represents a half-height woman rotated three-quarters to the right, but with her face turned to the left. The animal in her arms twists similarly, resulting in significant contrapposto with the lady, a technique Leonardo had previously explored with the angel in the Virgin of the Rocks.
What is the meaning of Lady with an Ermine?
A layer of white gesso and a layer of brownish underpaint are used to prepare the painting. The paint is applied evenly in general, similar to the Mona Lisa, while particular portions of the lady’s skin are more layered. Its subject is Cecilia Gallerani, an enticing young woman from the Milanese court who was the favorite mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan at the time of its execution; Leonardo was a painter to the Sforza court in Milan at the time of its execution.
For 18 years, the duke was da Vinci’s patron and champion, earning him the moniker “the white ermine.” It is the second of Leonardo’s only four surviving portraits of women, the others being La Belle Ferronnière, Ginevra de’ Benci, and the Mona Lisa.
What is an Ermine?
The Lady with an Ermine painting was purchased by the youthful Prince Adam Czartoryski (a hero in the war for Polish independence) on his trip to Italy in 1800. Leonardo da Vinci Lady with an Ermine was commissioned by his mother, an avid collector and the founder of the Czartoryski Museum.
Art experts first assumed that the animal in the picture was merely a decorative element. They later discovered that ermine is an allusion to Lodovico Sforza. Why is this so? He was also known as Ermellino Bianco at times (white ermine). Leonardo was unable to paint a couple together due to the upcoming wedding of Ludovico and Beatrice d’Este. That is why he was portrayed allegorically as an ermine, which also covers Cecilia’s pregnancy, Cesare, his son, was born soon after.
The image vanished for generations after Cecilia’s death until resurfacing in Poland around 1800. For many years, it was mistakenly thought to be the likeness of the so-called “Belle Ferronière,” a rumored mistress of King Francis I. The inscription LA BELE FERONIERE / LEONARD D’AWINCI in the upper left corner alongside the artist’s surname, which is spelled in Polish, attests to this. However, given Polish history in the twentieth century, it is remarkable that the Lady with an Ermine painting has survived.
What is the price of Lady with an Ermine?
There is substantial debate over whether the Lady with an Ermine picture was created by da Vinci, Boltraffio, or da Predis. During one of his visits, Prince Adam Czartoryski purchased the picture of Lady with an Ermine in Italy. In 1800, he added the artwork to the Czartoryski Family collection. The picture is now housed in the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland, but it is currently traveling to museums across the world because the Czartoryski Museum is undergoing renovations, which began in 2010.
On December 29, 2016, the Princes Czartoryski Foundation, represented by Adam Karol Czartoryski, the last direct offspring of Izabela Czartoryska Flemming and Adam George Czartoryski, who brought the painting to Poland from Italy in 1798, sold it to the Polish government for a sum of €100 million.
Home
by Dukgyu | Jun 1, 2022 | Leonardo da Vinci Paintings
Leonardo da Vinci Baptism of Christ
The Baptism of Christ
Title: The Baptism of Christ
Year: 1472-1475
Size: 177 x 151 cm
Medium: Oil on wood
Location: Uffizi, Florence, Italy
The Baptism of Christ Painting is a painting completed around 1475 in the art studio of the Italian Renaissance painter Andrea del Verrocchio and his apprentice Leonardo da Vinci. Verrochio used tempera on wood for the majority of the painting. Other members of Verrocchio’s workshop can be seen in the artwork, according to certain art historians.
Who baptized Jesus?
The painting represents the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, as described in the Biblical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Leonardo da Vinci the Baptism of Christ depicts a scenario that features God’s extended arms painted with golden rays and a dove with its wings widely spread, a cruciform halo painted on top of Jesus’ head, and another halo painted on top of Saint John the Baptist. The robes of Jesus are being held by two angels.
The angel on the left is documented as having been painted by the young Leonardo, a fact that has sparked so much special comment and mythology that the significance and value of the painting as a whole, and Verrocchio’s work are sometimes disregarded. Leonardo is also credited with much of the countryside in the background, according to modern critics.
The Baptism of Christ painting was commissioned by monks from the San Salvi Church close to Florence. Verrocchio and his disciple, Leonardo Da Vinci, created the artwork. Verrochio was an artist whose paintings, metals, and sculptures demonstrated his artistic abilities. He was running his own workshop with his apprentices, who turned out to be outstanding Renaissance artists like da Vinci. According to legend, The Baptism of Christ was Verrochio’s final painting before turning his attention to sculpting and metalwork.
It was because of those rumors spread that Verrochio was embarrassed as Leonardo’s angel painting was superior to his parts. He claimed that a boy’s comprehension of colors was far superior to his own and vowed never to touch color again.
What river was Jesus baptized in?
Da Vinci Baptism of Christ shows a significant incident in Jesus Christ’s life. It represents one of Christianity’s most important events, the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. This occurred on the banks of the Jordan River, a 251-kilometer-long river in the Middle East that runs through the Sea of Galilee.
The two men are joined in the river by two angels, one of whom is holding Jesus’ dress. The painting’s metaphorical aspects are fairly evident, and they include: John the Baptist is holding a stick with a gold cross atop it. The Holy Spirit is represented by a dove with light beams. The palm tree represents salvation and life. God’s hands appear on top of the artwork.
Giorgio Vasari, who analyzed the Baptism of Crist, stated that Leonardo’s angel and understanding of colors impressed Verrocchio so much that he stopped painting. Vasari did not personally meet Leonardo; thus, the authenticity of these allegations is unknown; however, Verrocchio’s painting productivity appears to have abruptly halted, with his last known painted piece being the Virgin and Child with Two Angels, which he passed on to his helper Lorenzo di Credi to complete.
The artwork of the Baptism of Christ was eventually moved from the Church of San Salvi to the Vallombrosan Sisterhood in Santa Verdiana. It was purchased by the Accademia in 1810 and moved to the Uffizi in 1959. Leonardo da Vinci Baptism of Christ is now on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Home
by Dukgyu | May 31, 2022 | Leonardo da Vinci Paintings
Leonardo da vinci Salvator Mundi
The Salvator Mundi (click for large image)
Title: Salvator Mundi
Year: c. 1499-1510
Size: 45.4 x 65.6 cm
Medium: Oil on walnut panel
Location: Mohammed bin Salman (owner), Saudi Arabia
The Salvator Mundi painting is a 1499 to 1510 artwork ascribed in whole or in part to the Italian High Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. In Latin, what does Salvator Mundi means “Savior of the World.” The 45 cm eerie oil-on-panel painting features a half-length figure of Christ facing front, dressed as the Savior of the World in an outdated blue Renaissance robe.
The painting depicted Christ gazing fixedly at the viewer, lightly beardless with an auburn ringlet, making the sign of the cross with his right hand while holding a translucent, non-refracting crystal orb in his left, signaling his role as the Salvator Mundi and representing the heavens and the ‘Celestial Sphere’.
Who is Salvator Mundi?
Leonardo depicts Christ as he is described in the Gospel of John chapter 4 verse 14: ‘And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the World.’ Although Leonardo did not paint Christ as the Salvator Mundi, he did do two drawings for the topic, and there is an etching by Wenceslaus Hollar from 1650, as well as several reproductions and modifications by his students and followers.
In 1964, Ludwig Heydenreich made an analysis of existing material and declared that there was a lost prototype. Maria Teresa Fiorio proposed in 2005 that the original artwork was never completed by Leonardo and that the derivations were from drawings and animation.
Leonardo may have painted “Salvator Mundi” for King Louis XII of France and his spouse, Anne of Brittany. It was most likely built shortly after the conquests of Milan and Genoa.
Around 1500, the Salvator Mundi, a half-length portrait of Christ holding a crystal ball in one hand, was made. The credit for the severely over-painted canvas has been given to Boltraffio, an artist who worked in da Vinci’s studio, since 1900. It wasn’t until the work was acquired by Paris and subjected to thorough cleaning and research that it was determined to be an original da Vinci painting.
It was next seen at a Sotheby’s auction in England in 1958, where it sold for £45 (about $125 at the time). It then vanished until 2005, when it was purchased at a modest US auction house.
Salvator Mundi original painting
According to studies, Da Vinci was obsessed with science, and the Salvatore Mundi painting is a confirmation of this. Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi includes rather than belies his scientific grasp of optics, as evidenced by excellent graphic renderings by computer scientists from the University of California, Berkeley.
Art historians agree that the glass orb in the picture represents the world. The orb, however, does not refract light in the same manner that a glass sphere would. Some art historians feel this demonstrates da Vinci never painted it. Biographer Walter Isaacson speculates that eliminating distortion was a purposeful choice by the artist in another explanation for the riddle of da Vinci’s orb. He claims that da Vinci intended to demonstrate the supernatural character of his subject matter by circumventing the natural rules of optics.
Some consider the Salvator Mundi to be a contentious picture. Following its sale in 2017 as a previously lost Leonardo da Vinci for $450.3 million—the highest price paid for a work of art at auction to date—the artwork became the subject of intensive examination. The reason for the attention could have been the obviously extravagant amount paid for a picture with a number of major flaws that, in theory, should have held its auction price in control.
The Salvator Mundi’s poor condition, dubious authorship, and uncertain history are among these difficulties. Even after restoration, the painting does not elicit the same level of contemplation or adoration as Leonardo’s other works. The painting was compared to and discovered after it had been cleaned and restored, by Salman.
Home
by Dukgyu | May 28, 2022 | Leonardo da Vinci Paintings
Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper
The last supper (click for large image)
Title: The Last Supper
Year: c. 1495-1498
Size: 460 x 880 cm
Medium: Mixed technique
Location: Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy
The Last Supper Painting is a mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci, completed between 1495 and 1498 for the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The artwork depicts the scenario of Jesus’ Last Supper with his twelve Disciples, as described in the Gospel of John — notably, the moment after Jesus announces that one of his apostles will betray him. Its mastery of perspective, handling of motion, and nuanced presentation of human emotion have made it one of Europe’s and the world’s most recognizable paintings, as well as one of Leonardo’s most admired masterpieces with the Mona Lisa.
History of the Last Supper painting
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci was painted with a tempera or oil paint, instead of fresco. Leonardo’s controversial procedure did not allow the pigments to attach firmly to the wall, resulting in the painting peeling after a few years. It deteriorated as a result of the steam and smoke from the monastery’s kitchen, soot from the candles in the refectory, and the wetness of the area, more contempt from Napoleon’s invading troops, who used the refectory as a stable, and later a flood in the early nineteenth century, did further damages to the painting.
After centuries of neglect, da Vinci Last Supper underwent a lengthy and controversial 20-year restoration, which was finished in 1999. When the restored picture was exhibited, critics claimed that the restorers had eliminated so much of Leonardo’s original work that very little remained. Others, on the other hand, praised the recovery of details such as the Apostles’ expressions and the food on the table.
7 facts about the Last Supper Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci
1) Who painted the Last Supper?
The Last Supper was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. He was born in the steep Tuscan countryside at Vinci, some 20 miles west of Florence, Italy, around 1452. Around 1460, Leonardo apprenticed at the studio of renowned artist Andrea del Verrocchio, where he learned anatomy, sculpting, architectural design, drawing, and painting.
2) What happened to the Last Supper in the Bible?
Jesus’ last meal with his disciples was known as the Last Supper. Jesus was betrayed after the supper, arrested, tried, and crucified. Jesus Last Supper painting’s significance was to prepare the disciples for Jesus’ departure, to foretell the approaching betrayal of Jesus, and to foretell the upcoming denial of Jesus by Apostle Peter.
3) What is the Last Supper meaning?
The Last Supper is the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. It is a significant event in Christian history because it occurs immediately before Jesus’ betrayal and subsequent arrest. It’s also significant since Jesus identified bread and wine as symbols of his own body and blood.
4) Who is who in the Last Supper painting?
Jesus and his 12 Apostles in the Last Supper (click for large image)
From the left to right direction:
– Bartholomew: referred to as Nathaniel
– James, son of Alphaeus: Spent three years witnessing the teachings of Jesus
– Andrew: The first disciple to be called to follow Jesus
– Peter: The meaning of his name means ‘rock’, denied Jesus thrice, but repented.
– Judas Iscariot: Betrayed Jesus
– John the beloved: The youngest disciples and Jesus’ favorite
– Jesus
– Thomas: Doubted Jesus after His resurrection
– James the Greater: The first disciple to be martyred
– Philip: A disciple from the city of Bethsaida
– Matthew: Once a tax collector before becoming a disciple
– Jude Thaddeus: Often shown with a flame around his head
– Simon the Zealot: One of the most obscure apostles
5) Where is the Last Supper original painting?
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper is a massive picture that hangs on the wall of the former Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, exactly in the convent’s refectory, and is one of the world’s most iconic and well-known artworks.
The Last Supper mural painting, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Millan (click for large image)
6) What is the Last Supper painting secret?
Unlike previous and subsequent artists, who paints Jesus and his disciples with a halo on their heads, presenting them in a saintly manner. The original last supper chose not to adorn Jesus Christ with halos. Many art historians believe Leonardo da Vinci believed in nature rather than in God. Leonardo believed that nature is God, hence he depicted all of the characters in the fresco as normal people.
7) Who is Judas in the Last Supper?
Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’s twelve followers. He is known for betraying Jesus by divulging his whereabouts in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. Judas led the Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus and kissed him to identify him. Jesus was then arrested, tried, and crucified.
Own the Last Supper painting
Own a piece of art history with this stunning painting by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci. The Last Supper is a masterpiece created in 1498, depicting the final meal shared by Jesus and his disciples. This painting is considered one of the greatest artworks in history, and is a rare opportunity to own a piece of this significance. For the details, just click here.
Home
by Dukgyu | May 22, 2022 | Leonardo da Vinci Paintings
Famous Paintings by Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci’s style of painting is considered to be a combination of Renaissance and Proto-Renaissance styles. He is known for his use of sfumato, which is a technique of blending colors together to create a soft, hazy effect. He also employed chiaroscuro, which is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and volume. Additionally, he was known for his use of perspective, which created a sense of realism in his works. The artwork of Leonardo da Vinci is the following.
Leonardo da Vinci Famous Paintings
- The Mona Lisa painting, one of the Leonardo da Vinci most famous paintings, depicts a seated woman, believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy merchant. The painting is a half-length portrait, and it is considered one of the most famous and iconic paintings in the world. Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa painting is notable for its mastery of composition, use of light and shadow, and the psychological intensity of the figures. The Mona Lisa’s fame is due in part to the painting’s enigmatic expression, which is often the subject of speculation and interpretation.
The Mona Lisa
- The Last Supper, one of the Leonardo da Vinci most famous paintings, depicts the scene from the Bible in which Jesus and his disciples are gathered for the last supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. Leonardo da Vinci last supper painting is a large mural and it was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, to be painted on the wall of the Dominican monastery Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The painting is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the High Renaissance and one of the most famous paintings in the world. The painting is notable for its mastery of composition, use of light and shadow, and the psychological intensity of the figures.
The Last Supper
- The Salvator Mundi, also known as the “Savior of the World,” depicts Jesus Christ as the Salvator Mundi, holding an orb in his left hand and making the sign of the cross with his right hand. Leonardo da Vinci Jesus painting is considered an important masterpiece of the High Renaissance, and it is notable for its mastery of composition, use of light and shadow, and the psychological intensity of the figure of Christ.
The Salvator Mundi
- The Baptism of Christ, known as the Leonardo da Vinci first painting, depicts the scene from the Bible in which Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The painting is considered one of the earliest known works by Leonardo, and it is notable for its mastery of composition, use of light and shadow, and the psychological intensity of the figures.
The Baptism of Christ
- Lady with an Ermine is a portrait of Cecilia Gallerani, who is holding an ermine, a small mammal that was a symbol of purity and nobility in the Renaissance era. The painting is known for its realism, attention to detail, and for use of sfumato, a technique of blending colors together to create a soft, hazy effect.
Lady with an Ermine
- Leda and the Swan depicts the story from Greek mythology of Leda, a queen of Sparta, who was seduced and impregnated by Zeus in the form of a swan. The painting is considered a lost artwork, as it is known only from copies, and no original work has been found.
Leda and the Swan
- Madonna Litta is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, created around 1490-1491. It depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the baby Jesus, with a small angel playing with a curl of Mary’s hair. The painting is a small devotional work and is considered one of the finest examples of Leonardo’s skill in painting the human figure.
Madonna Litta
- The Annunciation depicts the scene from the Bible in which the angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary to tell her that she will give birth to Jesus Christ. The painting is a small devotional work, which was probably painted for a private patron. It is considered one of the earliest known works by Leonardo, and it is notable for its mastery of composition, use of light and shadow, and the psychological intensity of the figures.
The Annunciation
- Portrait of a Musician depicts an unknown musician playing the lute, with a landscape in the background. The painting is notable for its use of light and shadow, which create a sense of depth and motion, as well as its attention to detail. It has been the subject of much speculation and has been widely studied by art historians and critics.
Potrait of a Musician
- Ginevra de’ Benci depicts Ginevra de’ Benci, a young woman from a wealthy Florentine family, who was married to Luigi Niccolini. It’s notable for the use of sfumato, a technique of blending colors together to create a soft, hazy effect, and the use of light and shadow which gives a sense of depth and volume to the figures.
Ginevra de’ Benci
- Saint John the Baptist, known as the Leonardo da Vinci last painting, depicts the biblical figure John the Baptist as a young man, in the wilderness, dressed in animal skins and holding a reed cross. The painting is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the High Renaissance, and is known for its mastery of composition, use of light and shadow, and the psychological intensity of the figure of John the Baptist.
Saint John the Baptist
- The Adoration of the Magi depicts the scene from the Bible in which the three wise men, or Magi, come to pay homage to the baby Jesus, who is being held by the Virgin Mary. The painting is considered one of the earliest known works by Leonardo, and it is notable for its mastery of composition, use of light and shadow, and the psychological intensity of the figures. The painting was never completed, and it was left in a crude state and is now lost. The painting is known through copies, and some drawings and sketches.
The Adoration of the Magi
Leonardo da Vinci Unfinished Painting
There are several paintings by Leonardo da Vinci that are considered unfinished. These include:
- The Adoration of the Magi, which was commissioned by the Monks of San Donato a Scopeto in Florence, Italy in 1481. The painting was never completed, and it is now housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
- The St. Jerome, a painting depicting Saint Jerome in the Wilderness, which is housed in the Vatican Museums in Rome, Italy.
- The Battle of Anghiari, a painting commissioned by the Signoria of Florence, Italy in 1503. The painting was never completed and the surviving fragment is housed in the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
- The Virgin and Child with St. Anne, a painting depicting the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and St. Anne, which is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
- The Leda and the Swan, a painting depicting the mythological story of Leda and the Swan, which is housed in the Galleria Borghese in Rome, Italy
These Leonardo paintings are considered unfinished because they have not been completed by Leonardo. Some of them have been finished by his students and followers, however, they may not have the same level of mastery and accuracy as the original artist’s works.
Home
