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 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 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.