“The painter has the Universe in his mind and hands.”
It’s been 500 years! All of Italy – and the world – is celebrating Leonardo da Vinci’s life by remembering his death on May 2, 1519.
I am familiar with his most famous paintings, which have become mythological themes in recent books and movies – the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and the Vitruvian Man. Leonardo da Vinci was much more than three paintings, as I have learned from my exploration into the life of Leonardo.
ChasingART will be celebrating the Life of Leonardo over the coming months by featuring his other paintings. Each one holds an extraordinary story within the paint and brushstrokes.
Thank you for joining me on this treasure hunt, for indeed that is what it turned out to be!
#/media/File:L%C3%A9onard_de_Vinci,_sainte_Anne,_Louvre.jpg "By Leonardo da Vinci, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15474941 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Virgin_and_Child_with_Saint_Anne_(Leonardo)")
“This painting was begun around 1503 at least, in Florence, then was kept by Leonardo da Vinci until his death to slowly continue the pictorial execution, still unfinished in 1519; the work was very probably acquired by François I in 1518.n.” The Lourve
The lamb is a symbol of sacrifice, a foreshadowing of the Passion. Jesus’s mother, Mary, tries to protect him by holding him back. What is interesting to me is that Mary is sitting on her mother’s lap. A protector of the protector, which suggest a close family connection. Some believe that Leonardo’s childhood provides context in that he was raised by his mother, but was adopted by the wife of his father, Ser Piero.
Sigmund Freud weighed in with a psychoanalytic examination entitled, Leonardo da Vinci, A Memory of His Childhood, suggesting that Mary’s garment, if you look at it at a certain angle, reveals a vulture. I confess that I have looked at this painting from various positions and cannot see anything that resembles a vulture.
In 2011-2012, there was a kerfuffle over whether this painting should be restored. Some experts were for the restoration, some were not, thinking that the painting may be damaged. The final outcome: the painting was cleaned and is located in Room 710 Department of Painting of the Lourvre, Denon wing 1st floor, Grande Galerie.
Or you can see the restored painting on the Louvre website.
Let’s celebrate!
I invite you to listen to my podcast Celebrating Leonardo on Tea Toast & Trivia.
ChasingART 
Exquisite… I love this series, Rebecca, am gobbling them up… I never missed visiting da Vinci’s Virgin on the Rocks at the National Gallery. Its recently been cleaned, and is an interesting contrast to the darkness of the unrestored version at the Louvre… the wonderful film on da Vinci examines them both…
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Dear Valerie – it is wonderful to have you back in the blogging world. You have been missed. 500 Years and we are still captured by the vibrant spirit of Leonardo da Vinci. I am now looking in “Lady with an Ermine, Cecilia Gallerani, painted at a time when she was the mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. So many stories in one painting. Since we last connected, I have started a podcast called Tea Toast & Trivia. One of my earliest episodes was about Leonardo. I was just learning about mics and audio sounds – and I’m still learning. Thought your would like to listen in!! https://anchor.fm/teatoasttrivia/episodes/Celebrating-Leonardo-e460eb
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Lovely to be back having conversations !
Yes, I Love Lady with an Ermine, and Ginevra de… I have a cache oh huge beautifully illustrated books on a number of the great masters, and the reproductions are so good that I (almost) don’t miss not having seen the originals.. though I’d love to do what a rich friend did, – travelled around Italy and elsewhere looking at every picture Caravaggio painted,
Love the title of your podcast, tea, Toast and Trivia… you are so clever the way you’ve mastered the internet and technology… I envy you… XXX
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You have been very much missed! I am celebrating your return. I am with you on the idea of traveling around Italy and taking in all of the warm sunshine, delicious food, coffee and yes – every picture of Caravaggio. I have an art calendar that I purchase every year for the past 10 years (still have every one), which allows me to focus on one artwork/day. I never look ahead (as I do in books -yikes) because there is something special about the unveiling the masterpiece and then focusing on that specific piece. I love art galleries and museums, but I find myself over-stimulated with all the beauty as I go from one painting to the others. Simply a magic moment. Then when I am back in my “solitude” I am able to embrace the individuality, mystery and narrative. By the way, how is your WIFI? Would love to podcast with you. Learning to podcast from a distance. It is a work in progress. Hugs and more hugs!
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/si, this has been on the screen since you posted it – what a lovely painting – each ‘generation’ so very important and special.
I love what you’re doing this month with your posts – at some point i’ll be back with more comments!
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Always enjoy seeing your comments! All the best in your new adventures. I’m following with great interest. Hugs coming your way!
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How did I not know about your podcasts?! I’ve bookmarked your TT&T site for easy access to listening during my morning coffee and afternoon tea. So nice to hear your voice as well as your guests’. What a perfect format for all your creative talents and warmth. Hugs!
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I am so happy that you are listening in!! When my father passed eight years ago, I promised that I would write about the beauty of life. So this is my way of fulfilling my promise. I continue to learn about mics, background noise etc. I especially enjoy conversations with Frances. Stay tuned for how to make a sod house. These are stories that I have just discovered!!!
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I missed this post on this site, but I did enjoy it on TT&T.
I’m doing a special post on Art Gowns. I’m looking for a piece in a ballet that shows sorrow, but then great redemption…joy hopefully, arising from it.
Any ideas?
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I have a couple of ideas! Stay tuned. My sister is the director/owner of a dance studio that is known for ballet. Will be in touch!!! Exciting stuff.
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Yay!!!
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This is going to be a great treasure hunt! Thank you for doing all the research. This visual author and artist was truly amazing, a giant among artists. I will look forward to this adventure of learning new things. Off to new experiences with you!
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So glad you are joining the treasure hunt. What I find most fascinating is all of the discussion and arguments surrounding Leonardo’s paintings. There is always a plethora of opinions to consider. Even 500 years after his death, we embrace him as if he belongs to us, to our generation.
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I think it is because he seems so like us??
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An insightful thought.
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I look forward to reading more about this great Renaissance genius
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What an adventure this is! Everyone wants to understand Leonardo, but I rather think that he will ever-remain, a man for all generations. Which suggests, that he will be always be unreachable. Thank you so much for joining the treasure hunt.
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My pleasure to discover some more aspects about this great mind.
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