Famous paintings by Leonardo Vinci with titles. Leonardo da Vinci - Italian genius

The name of the genius of the Italian Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci is familiar to everyone, young and old. The scientist, writer, inventor, artist and sculptor left behind many magnificent works of art. Mystics, astrologers, historians and ordinary people have been looking for hidden signs and meanings in them for several centuries. We invite you to simply enjoy their splendor.

Here are outstanding works of the Renaissance, paintings by Leonardo da Vinci with titles and brief description the stories of their creation, masterpieces that are rightfully considered the best in the gallery of the great master.

"Mona Lisa" (La Gioconda)

Portrait of the wife of a silk merchant from Florence F.D. Giocondo by Lisa Gherardini was painted approximately 1503-1505. Nowadays the painting is considered the most famous not only in the work of Leonardo da Vinci, but in general in world painting of all times and peoples. Biographers of the great master have always written about the place of the canvas in the artist’s work, his attitude towards the portrait and the passion with which he devoted himself to working on it.

Many paintings by Leonardo da Vinci (you can find the names and descriptions of some by reading the article) are shrouded in mysticism. However, La Gioconda has become a real leader in this matter. She was always shrouded in mystery and an aura of enigma. Biographers and art historians have been grappling with many questions about its creation for centuries. In particular, they are discussing whether the model was really the wife of an ordinary merchant. There are versions that Isabella of Aragon, the lover of the master Salai, or even Leonardo da Vinci himself, who thus veiled his self-portrait, could act in this capacity.

Currently, the painting is kept in the Louvre (Paris).

"The Last Supper"

The monumental painting, which da Vinci worked on for three years (1495-1498), is located on back wall refectory of the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The theme of the painting is quite traditional for this kind of premises.

Fresco in the traditional sense " Last Supper"is not, Leonardo wrote it on dry plaster, not wet plaster. He successively applied stone wall several coatings of resin, gabs and mastic, and then painted it with tempera.

The painting is a separate milestone in the art of the Renaissance. It is distinguished by incredible accuracy and depth of perspective. The master’s technique had a huge impact and literally directed the development of all Western painting in the right direction.

"Madonna Benoit"

When naming the best paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, one cannot help but recall the beautiful Benois Madonna. This is an early work by the master (1478-1480), which he presumably did not complete. It is likely that this painting and “Madonna with a Carnation” became the first independent works of the painter. At that time, Leonardo was 26 years old, he had already left his teacher and workshop.

Admiring the canvas, one cannot help but note da Vinci’s characteristic and already established to a certain extent style, although he still relies on the experience of the Florentines of the 15th century. One of the first independent works of the master is distinguished by a new interpretation of the biblical plot, which is defined as an ordinary scene of their life. You see a young mother, dressed and combed in the fashion of those years, playing with her son and handing him a cruciferous flower ( traditional symbol crucifixion).

In 1912 " Madonna Benoit» belonged to the private collection of the court architect Leonty Nikolaevich Benois. At his request, it was evaluated by European antique dealers. However, the architect’s wife wished to leave the painting in Russia and gave it to the Hermitage (where it is now kept) for 150 thousand rubles instead of the specified 500 thousand francs.

Unfinished canvas “San Girolamo”

The painting "Saint Jerome" remained unfinished. Leonardo carried it out on behalf of the church authorities of Florence in early period of his creativity, at the moment when he worked in the workshop of A. Verrocchio. Having departed for Milan in 1482, he left her.

The plot of the picture, as the title suggests, is religious. The viewer sees Saint Jerome repentant. His figure is central, it is expressive and even in its unfinished form allows one to notice the careful elaboration of facial expression and body structure. At the saint's feet lies a lion - his usual companion.

The painting reached us in a rather shabby state. It was cut heavily and then sawed in two; it is assumed that the lower one could serve as a chest lid. All the elements were brought together by Cardinal Fesch. Currently, the painting “Saint Jerome” is kept in the Vatican Pinakothek.

"Annunciation"

Leonardo da Vinci painted the religious painting “The Annunciation” in at a young age, being “under the wing” of his teacher Verrocchio, in 1472-1475. The plot of the canvas refers to the Gospel text, which tells about the announcement of the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel about the future birth of Jesus Christ.

The composition is simple and in some ways traditional. On foreground we see a kneeling archangel with a white lily in his left hand and Mary. The horizontal line in the background is filled with a vast landscape.

We can say that perspective was not used in the fine arts before the great master, and he himself did not come to this right away, which clearly demonstrates this early work("Annunciation"). Leonardo da Vinci's painting has undergone minor changes. Initially, the archangel's wings were smaller and looked much more harmonious. However, they were completed by an unknown artist and, as a result, became more cumbersome.

The painting has been kept in one of the oldest galleries in Europe, the Uffizi (Florence, Italy), since 1867.

"John the Baptist"

This work belongs to late period works of Leonardo da Vinci. The painting was painted in oil on wood, probably between 1514 and 1516. It is believed that, together with “La Gioconda” and “Saint Anne”, he brought her to France in 1516, when he settled in the castle of Cloux. In 1517, he showed all three works to the Cardinal of Aragon, and they were soon purchased by the king. Since then, the paintings have not left the royal collection and were inherited by the Louvre.

The painting “John the Baptist” has a blank background, completely devoid of landscape, so characteristic of works created during the Renaissance, in particular those by Leonardo. The viewer's attention is concentrated on the figure of the saint, who is literally enveloped by the so-called sfumato (softened outline of objects and figures) brought to perfection. This technique was developed by da Vinci himself. The saint is depicted in a traditional manner (attributes, gesture), but at the same time there are signs indicating the transition of Leonardo’s painting from classic style into the mainstream of mannerism. These include the young man’s delicacy, his effeminate smile and gaze, and his curly hair in rings.

Composition and history of the “Adoration of the Magi”

The unfinished painting “The Adoration of the Magi” was commissioned in 1481 by the Augustinian monks from the monastery of San Donato (Scopeto). However, it remained unfinished, since a year after the start of work the master left for Milan. The customers, concerned about his absence for too long, wanting to get the painting as quickly as possible, turned to another artist, Filippino Lipli. Both works are currently kept in the Uffizi Gallery.

The composition that the viewer observes in the painting “Adoration of the Magi” is very unusual and probably has no analogues in Italian painting. In the center you see Mary with the newborn Jesus in her arms, around are pilgrims who came to bow to the Son of God, in the background are the ruins of a castle (some art critics and historians suggest that this is a pagan temple), horsemen and barely visible rocks. It is believed that the young man pictured on the right is da Vinci himself at the age of 29. The author left the foreground free, dedicating it to the viewer.

"Madonna Litta"

World-famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, with titles and a short history the creations presented in the article have never been questioned in terms of authorship, which cannot be said about the painting “Madonna Litta”. Some art historians believe that it could well have been written by one of his students. Others cite a sketch of the Madonna's head, which is kept in the Louvre, as evidence of authenticity.

In the center of the plot is a woman with a child in her arms, whom she is breastfeeding. The background is filled with a wall with two arched windows from which light falls on the viewer. Madonna herself seems to be illuminated from within.

Leonardo painted the picture in 1490-1491. for the rulers of Milan. Later the painting passed to the noble aristocratic family of Litta. It was kept in their private collection for several centuries, thanks to which it found its modern name. In 1864, the “Madonna Litta” was acquired by the Hermitage, where it is still on display.

Leonardo da Vinci's paintings, with titles and photos presented above, are undoubtedly the best in the artist's work. These are real pearls not only of his personal gallery of the Renaissance, but of all world painting.

Leonardo da Vinci can safely be considered one of the unique people of our planet... After all, he is known not only as one of the greatest artists and sculptors of Italy, but also as the greatest scientist, researcher, engineer, chemist, anatomist, botanist, philosopher, musician and poet. His creations, discoveries and research were several epochs ahead of their time.

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 near Florence, in the city of Vinci (Italy). Quite a bit of information is known about da Vinci’s mother, only that she was a peasant, was not married to Leonardo’s father, and raised her son in the village until he was 4 years old, after which he was sent to his father’s family. But Leonardo’s father, Piero Vinci, was a fairly wealthy citizen, worked as a notary, and also owned land and the title of Messer.

Leonardo da Vinci received his primary education, which included the ability to write, read, and basic mathematics and Latin, at home. For many, his manner of writing was interesting. mirror image from left to right. Although, if necessary, he could write traditionally without much difficulty. In 1469, the son and his father moved to Florence, where Leonardo began to study the profession of an artist, which was not the most revered at that time, although Piero had a desire for his son to inherit the profession of a notary. But at that time, an illegitimate child could not be a doctor or a lawyer. And already in 1472 Leonardo was accepted into the guild of painters of Florence, and in 1473 the very first dated work of Leonardo da Vinci was written. This landscape showed a sketch of a river valley.

Already in 1481 - 1482. Leonardo was accepted into the service of the ruler of Milan at that time, Lodovico Moro, where he served as the organizer of court holidays, and part-time as a military engineer and hydraulic engineer. Being engaged in architecture, da Vinci had a huge influence on the architecture of Italy. In his works, he developed various options for a modern ideal city, as well as projects for a central domed temple.

At this time, Leonardo da Vinci tried himself in various scientific directions and achieved unprecedented results almost everywhere. positive results, but he just couldn’t find the favorable environment he needed so much in Italy at that time. Therefore, with great pleasure, in 1517 he accepted the invitation of the French king Francis I to the position of court painter and arrived in France. During this period, the French court tried to become quite actively involved in culture. Italian Renaissance, therefore the artist is surrounded by universal veneration, although according to the testimony of many historians, this veneration was rather ostentatious and wore external character. The artist’s weakened strength was at its limit and after two years, on May 2, 1519, Leonardo da Vinci died in, near Amboise, in France. But despite the short life path Leonardo da Vinci became a recognized symbol of the Renaissance.

Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452, on April 15th. He died in 1519, on May 2. This person can certainly be considered one of the unique talents of our planet. He is known not only as one of Italy's greatest sculptors and painters, but also as a poet, musician, philosopher, botanist, anatomist, chemist, engineer, explorer, and scientist. His discoveries and creations were ahead of their time by more than one era. We will describe the main paintings by Leonardo da Vinci with titles in this article.

"Portrait of Ginevra de Benci"

Done this work approximately from 1474 to 1478. This early work depicts a Florentine poetess who lived in the 15th century. From there we will begin to present you with paintings by Leonardo da Vinci with names and descriptions.

Probably this work can be considered the first psychological portrait in the history of painting. It clearly expresses a mood of sadness, possibly associated with the breakdown of this girl’s relationship with Bernardo Bembo, the Venetian ambassador, her lover. Ginevra's pale face with narrow eyes and wide cheekbones stands out in contrast against the background of nature - the evening landscape. In the picture we see a juniper bush called jinepro. This is a subtle hint to the girl's name. The canvas demonstrates the artist's undoubted technical skill. With the help of sfumato, black and white modeling, the contours of the figure are softened. At the same time, the author violated the Renaissance tradition in depicting portraits that existed at that time. The model is turned to the right, not to the left, and the light source is positioned accordingly.

The emblem is on the back of this piece - a juniper branch placed inside a wreath of palm and laurel branches. “Beauty is the adornment of virtue,” says the Latin inscription on the ribbon entwining them.

"Saint Jerome"

We continue to describe Leonardo da Vinci's paintings with names. The following work was completed by the artist in 1482. It is kept in Unfortunately, some of the paintings of this great artist, thinker, and scientist of the Renaissance were not completed. The canvas that interests us also belongs to them. However, it is a work in which the entire author’s intention is already visible. The painting "Saint Jerome" was done at the underpainting level.

Description of the painting

It depicts Saint Jerome - translator of Latin Bibles, religious thinker, an ascetic and ascetic who retired to the desert, where he spent several years. This man is depicted as repentant. His eyes are full of prayer. He pushes aside his cloak over his shoulder with one hand and swings the other back, swinging to hit himself in the chest with a stone. The muscles of the ascetic, thin face, arms and shoulders are tense, the foot stands firmly on big stone. Jerome is a continuous cry for forgiveness. In the foreground we see a lion, which, according to legend, has accompanied this saint since he met him in the desert and cured the beast. This wild animal submitted to the goodness and love with which God filled Jerome’s soul.

"Madonna and Child with Saint Anne"

This work, kept today in the Louvre, was completed around 1510 on a popular subject. It depicts the infant Christ with the Holy Virgin and Anna, her mother. The arrangement of the figures in this group differs from earlier compositions, which were static. Leonardo da Vinci spent the first years of the 16th century working on various versions of this plot. For example, a drawing has been preserved that shows a slightly different interpretation, including John the Baptist in his infancy.

Although St. Anna in her usual place, that is, behind the Holy Virgin, all three figures are very realistic and alive. Leonardo da Vinci, moving away from the then-existing tradition of depicting Anna as an elderly matron, painted her as unexpectedly attractive and young. She can hardly contain her glee at the sight of the baby. An allusion to the future role of the innocent victim, the lamb of God for the atonement of sins, is the lamb in the arms of Christ.

"Madonna and Child"

This painting is exhibited in the Hermitage. The years of its creation are 1490-1491. It also has a second name - “Madonna Lita”, named after one of the owners of this painting, Leonardo da Vinci. The title of the painting “Madonna and Child” tells us the plot. Every person who looks at the canvas has a feeling of sublime peace, contemplative spiritual silence. In the image of the Madonna, da Vinci combined the earthly, sensual, spiritual and sublime into one unshakable harmonious image of beauty. Her face is serene, and, despite the fact that there is no smile on her lips, her posture and tilt of her head express endless tenderness towards the child. Madonna breastfeeds her baby. He looks absentmindedly at the viewer, right hand holding mother's chest. On the left is the goldfinch bird, which is a symbol of the Christian soul.

"Madonna Benois" ("Madonna and Child")

There are two paintings by Leonardo da Vinci with titles (a photo of one of them was presented above) that are similar to each other. - this is both “Madonna Benois” and “Madonna Lita”. We have already met the last one. Let's tell you about the first one. This work is also kept in the Hermitage. It was completed by the artist in 1478.

This painting is one of the iconic ones in his work. The center of the composition is the flower in the hands of Mary, to which Jesus is drawn. The master places the Madonna, dressed in the Florentine fashion that existed in the 15th century, and the baby in a room lit only by a window located in the back of the room. But a soft, different light pours from above. He brings the canvas to life with the play of chiaroscuro. This gives volume to the figures and reveals the modeling of the form. The picture has a slightly muted, dim color.

"Mona Lisa"

We continue to describe the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci with names and year. The next work that interests us is now in the Louvre. It was written between 1503 and 1505. There is not a single mention of this work in the artist’s own notes. It's about, perhaps, about the most famous painting Leonardo da Vinci - painting "Mona Lisa".

Who is depicted in this picture?

There are many versions of who is actually depicted in the painting. It has been suggested that this is a self-portrait of the artist himself or his student, an image of his mother, or simply a collective female image. According to official opinion, the picture shows the wife of a Florentine merchant. The famous smile that gives her face charm and mystery is frozen on this woman’s lips. It seems that it is not the viewer who is looking at her, but she is watching him with an understanding, deep gaze.

The painting is made in unusually thin, almost transparent layers. It seems that she is alive, and not painted. The strokes are so small that neither X-rays nor a microscope detect traces of the artist’s work and cannot determine the number of layers in the painting. “La Gioconda” is unusually airy. The space of the picture is filled with a light haze. It allows diffused light to pass through.

"Annunciation"

The main paintings by Leonardo da Vinci with the titles that we presented in this article conclude with a description of the next painting. You can admire this work in It was written in 1472.

The master worked on the canvas while he was still in Verrocchio’s workshop. The artist had to complete this painting, begun by other students, and also correct their mistakes. Leonardo completed several sketches that depicted Mary's cloak, as well as the robes of the Archangel Gabriel. He rewrote the draperies based on these drawings. As a result, they lay in voluminous folds. After this, the master painted Gabriel’s head again, tilting it slightly, but did not have time to make changes to the image of Mary. Her pose does not look entirely natural. Probably, the one who worked on the canvas before Leonardo did not know the laws of perspective very well. However, in an unexpected way, all these mistakes show how difficult it was to master realistic painting.

These are the main paintings of Leonardo da Vinci with names and descriptions. We tried to briefly talk about them. Of course, the title of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings is English sounds different, just like in Italian, the artist’s own language. However, every person, regardless of nationality, is able to be imbued with these great works. Many English people, for example, do not necessarily need to see the titles of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings in English. They already know what kind of work it is. The works of the great artist are so popular that they often do not need introduction.

The scope of his activity covers not only space (Italy-France), but also time. Isn’t it surprising that the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci now cause the same heated debate and admiration as during the years of his life? Such a “formula of immortality” can rightfully be considered greatest discovery in history. What are its components? Almost every person on the planet would like to have an answer to this question. Some even decided that it was best to ask Leonardo himself about this, having “resurrected” the master with the help of modern scientific developments. However, the main components of the “formula” are visible to the naked eye: potential genius, coupled with incredible curiosity and a large share of humanism. And yet, any genius is a dreamer-practitioner. Judge for yourself, all the work of Leonardo da Vinci (here we include not only sketches, paintings, frescoes, but also all the scientific research of the Master) can be imagined as steps towards the realization of mankind’s long dreams of perfection. Did you want a person to fly like a bird? So we need to make him something like wings! Christ walked on water, so why shouldn’t mere mortals have the same opportunity? Let's design a water ski!

The entire life and work of Leonardo da Vinci were filled with attempts to answer numerous questions about the laws of the universe, reveal the secrets of existence and direct them to the service of humanity. After all, do not forget that a Renaissance man is, first of all, a great humanist.

The biography of Leonardo da Vinci is, figuratively speaking, the story of several souls trapped in the body of one person. Indeed, in each of the areas studied, he exhibits very special qualities, which, in the understanding of ordinary people, can hardly belong to one single person. Perhaps this is why some have tried to prove that Leonardo da Vinci is just a pseudonym taken by a group of people. However, the theory was doomed to failure almost before its birth.

Today da Vinci is known to us to a greater extent as an unsurpassed artist. Unfortunately, no more than 15 of his works have reached us, while the rest either simply did not stand the test of time due to the master’s constant experiments with techniques and materials, or are considered not yet found. However, those works that have come down to us remain the most famous and most copied masterpieces of art in the world.

Biography of Leonardo da Vinci

The baby, subsequently baptized under the name Leonardo, was born, as recorded in the church book, “on Saturday, April 15, 1452 from the Nativity of Christ” from the extramarital affair of the peasant woman Catherine and the notary, ambassador of the Florentine Republic, Messire Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, a descendant rich, respected Italian family. The father, who had no other heirs at that time, wished to take his son into his home and give him a proper education. All that is known for sure about the mother is that she officially married a man from a peasant family and gave him 7 more children. By the way, Leonardo’s father was also subsequently married four times and presented his first-born (whom, by the way, he never made his official heir) with ten more brothers and two sisters.

All further biography da Vinci is closely tied to his work; the events of the master’s life and the people he met naturally left their traces on the development of his worldview. Thus, a meeting with Andrea Verrocchio determined the beginning of his path in art. At the age of 16, Leonardo became a student in the studio of the famous master Verrocchio. It is in Verrocchio's workshop that Leonardo gets the opportunity to express himself as an artist: the teacher allows him to paint the face of an angel for the famous “Baptism of Christ”.

At the age of 20, da Vinci became a member of the Society of St. Luke, guild of artists, still working in the workshop of Verokkil until 1476. One of his first independent works, “Madonna of the Carnation,” dates back to the same period. Ten years later, Leonardo was invited to Milan, where he remained to work until 1501. Here Leonardo's talents are widely used not only as an artist, but also as a sculptor, decorator, organizer of all kinds of masquerades and tournaments, and a man who created amazing mechanical devices. Two years later, the master returns to his native Florence, where he paints his legendary fresco “The Battle of Angiani”.

Like most Renaissance masters, da Vinci traveled a lot, leaving a memory of himself in every city he visited. Towards the end of his life, he became “the first royal artist, engineer and architect” under François I, working on the architectural structure of the castle of Cloux. However, this work remained unfinished: da Vinci died in 1519, at the age of 67. Nowadays, in the castle of Cloux, from the plan originally conceived by the great Leonardo, only a double spiral staircase remains, while the rest of the architecture of the castle was repeatedly redone by subsequent dynasties of French kings.

The works of Leonardo da Vinci

Despite numerous scientific research Leonardo, his glory as a scientist and inventor fades somewhat before the glory of Leonardo the artist, whose few surviving works have fascinated and excited the mind and imagination of mankind for almost 400 years. It was in the field of painting that many of da Vinci’s works devoted to the nature of light, chemistry, biology, physiology and anatomy found their application.

His paintings remain the most mysterious works of art. They are copied in search of the secret of such mastery, they are discussed and argued about by entire generations of art connoisseurs, critics and even writers. Leonardo considered painting to be a branch applied science. Among the many factors that make da Vinci's work unique, one of the main ones is the innovative techniques and experiments used by the master in his works, as well as deep knowledge of anatomy, botany, geology, optics and even human soul... Looking at the portraits he created, we really see not just an artist, but an attentive observer, a psychologist who was able to understand the physical expression of the emotional component of the human personality. Da Vinci not only managed to understand this himself, but also found techniques that allowed him to transfer this knowledge to canvas with photographic accuracy. An unsurpassed master of sfumato and chiaroscuro, Leonardo da Vinci put all the power of his knowledge into the most famous works- “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper”.

Leonardo believed that best character for the image on canvas is the person whose body movements most closely correspond to the movements of his soul. This belief can be considered da Vinci's creative credo. In his works, it was embodied in the fact that in his entire life he painted only one portrait of a man, preferring women as models, as individuals who were more emotional.

Early period of creativity

Periodization creative biography Leonardo da Vinci is rather arbitrary: some of his works are not dated, and the chronology of the master’s life is also not always accurate. The very beginning creative path da Vinci can be traced to the day when his father, Ser Piero, showed some sketches of his 14-year-old son to his friend Andrea del Verrocchio.

After a year, during which Leonardo was trusted only to clean canvases, rub paints and do other preparatory work, Verrocchio began to introduce his student to the traditional techniques of painting, engraving, architecture and sculpture. Here Leonardo gained knowledge of the basics of chemistry, metallurgy, mastered woodworking and even the beginnings of mechanics. Only to him, his best student, does Verrocchio trust the completion of his work. During this period Leonardo does not create own works, but greedily absorbs everything related to his chosen profession. Together with his teacher he works on The Baptism of Christ (1472-1475). The play of light and shadow, the facial features of the little angel, which da Vinci was entrusted to paint, amazed Verrocchio so much that he considered himself surpassed by his own student and decided never to take up a brush again. It is also believed that Leonardo became the model for the bronze sculpture of David and the image of the Archangel Michael.

In 1472, Leonardo was included in the “Red Book” of the Guild of St. Luca is the famous union of artists and doctors of Florence. At the same time, da Vinci’s first notable works appeared, which brought him fame: the ink sketch “Landscape of Santa Maria della Neve” and “The Annunciation”. He improves the sfumato technique, bringing it to unprecedented perfection. Now a light haze - sfumato - is not just a thin layer of blurry paint, but a really light veil of living fog. Despite the fact that by 1476. da Vinci opens his own workshop and receives his own orders, he still works closely with Verrocchio, treating his teacher with deep respect and respect. The Madonna of the Carnation, one of da Vinci’s most significant works, is dated to the same year.

Mature period of creativity

At the age of 26, da Vinci began a completely independent career, and also began a more detailed study of various aspects of natural science and became a teacher himself. During this period, even before his departure to Milan, Leonardo began work on “The Adoration of the Magi,” which he never completed. It is quite possible that this was a kind of revenge by da Vinci for the fact that Pope Sixtus IV rejected his candidacy when choosing an artist to paint the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican in Rome. Perhaps the fashion for Neoplatonism that reigned in Florence at that time also played a role in da Vinci’s decision to leave for the rather academic and pragmatic Milan, which was more in line with his spirit. In Milan, Leonardo takes on the creation of the “Madonna in the Grotto” for the altar of the chapel. This work clearly shows that da Vinci already has some knowledge in the field of biology and geodesy, since the plants and the grotto itself are depicted with maximum realism. All proportions and laws of composition are observed. However, despite such stunning performance, this painting became a point of contention between the author and customers for many years. Da Vinci devoted the years of this period to recording his thoughts, drawings, and deeper research. It is quite possible that a certain musician, Migliorotti, was involved in his departure to Milan. Just one letter from this man, which described the amazing works of engineering of the “senor, who also draws,” was enough for da Vinci to receive an invitation to work under the auspices of Louis Sforza, far from rivals and ill-wishers. Here he gets some freedom for creativity and research. She also organizes performances and celebrations, and provides technical equipment for the stage of the court theater. In addition, Leonardo painted many portraits for the Milanese court.

Late period of creativity

It was during this period that da Vinci thought more about military-technical projects, studied urban planning and proposed his own model of an ideal city.
Also, while staying in one of the monasteries, he receives an order for a sketch for the image of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus, St. Anna and John the Baptist. The work turned out to be so impressive that the viewer felt himself present at the described event, part of the picture.

In 1504, many students who considered themselves followers of da Vinci left Florence, where he stayed to put his numerous notes and drawings in order, and moved with their teacher to Milan. From 1503 to 1506 Leonardo begins work on La Gioconda. The model chosen is Mona Lisa del Giocondo, née Lisa Maria Gherardini. Numerous variations of the plot of the famous painting still do not leave artists and critics indifferent.

In 1513 Leonardo da Vinci moved to Rome for a while at the invitation of Pope Leon X, or rather to the Vatican, where Raphael and Michelangelo were already working. A year later, Leonardo begins the “Later” series, which is a kind of response to the version proposed by Michelangelo in Sistine Chapel. The master also does not forget his passion for engineering, working on the problem of draining the swamps on the territory of the possessions of Duke Julien de' Medici.

One of the most grandiose architectural projects During this period, the castle of Cloux in Amboise became for da Vinci, where the master was invited to work by the King of France, Francois I. Over time, their relationship became much closer than just a business one. Francois often listens to the opinion of the great scientist, treats him like a father, and has a hard time with the death of da Vinci in 1519. Leonardo dies in the spring from a serious illness at the age of 67, bequeathing his manuscripts and brushes to his student, Francesco Melzi.

Inventions of Leonardo da Vinci

It may seem incredible, but some inventions made in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. in fact, they were already described in the works of da Vinci, like some of the things we are familiar with. It seems that what the master would not mention in his manuscripts does not exist at all. There's even an alarm clock described there! Of course, its design is significantly different from what we see today, however, the invention deserves attention if only because of its design: scales whose bowls are filled with liquid. Pouring from one bowl to another, the water activates a mechanism that pushes or lifts the legs of a dozing person. It's hard not to wake up in such conditions!

However, the true genius of Leonardo the engineer is evident in his mechanical and architectural innovations. He managed to bring the latter to life almost completely (with the exception of the project for an ideal city). But regarding mechanics, application for it was not immediately found. It is known that da Vinci was preparing to test his flying machine himself, but it was never constructed, despite the detailed plan drawn up on paper. And the bicycle, created by a master from wood, also came into use several centuries later, as did a mechanical self-propelled carriage driven by two levers. However, the very principle of the cart's operation was used to improve the loom during Da Vinci's lifetime.
Being recognized as a genius of painting during his lifetime, Leonardo da Vinci dreamed all his life of a career as a military engineer, and therefore a special place in his activities was given to the study of fortifications, military vehicles, and defensive structures. So, it was he who developed excellent methods of repelling Turkish attacks in Venice, and even created a kind of protective spacesuit. But since the Turks never attacked, the invention was not tested in action. In the same way, only a combat vehicle resembling a tank remained in the drawings.

In general, unlike works of painting, Leonardo’s manuscripts and drawings have survived to this day in greater safety and continue to be studied today. Some drawings were even used to recreate machines that were not destined to appear during Da Vinci’s lifetime.

Painting by Leonardo da Vinci

Most of the works by da Vinci have not survived to this day due to the master’s constant experiments not only with painting techniques, but also with tools: paints, canvases, primers. As a result of such experiments, the composition of paints on some frescoes and canvases did not stand the test of time, light, and moisture.

In the manuscript dedicated to fine arts da Vinci, basically, focuses not so much on writing technique, but on a detailed presentation of the innovations he invented, which, by the way, had a huge impact on further development art. First of all, these are some practical advice regarding the preparation of instruments. Thus, Leonardo advises covering the canvas with a thin layer of glue, instead of the white primer mixture that was used before. An image applied to a canvas prepared in this way is fixed much better than on the ground, especially if painted in tempera, which was widespread at that time. Oil came into use a little later, and da Vinci preferred to use it specifically for writing on primed canvas.

Also, one of the features of da Vinci’s painting style is a preliminary sketch of the intended painting in transparent dark (brown) tones; these same tones were also used as the top, final layer of the entire work. In both cases, the completed work was given a gloomy tint. It is quite possible that over time the colors darkened even more precisely because of this feature.

Most of da Vinci's theoretical works are devoted to the image human emotions. He talks a lot about the way of expressing feelings, and cites his own research. There is even a known case when Leonardo decided to experimentally test his guesses about how the facial muscles move during laughter and crying. Having invited a group of friends to dinner, he began to tell funny stories, making his guests laugh, while da Vinci carefully watched the movement of muscles and facial expressions. Possessing a unique memory, he transferred what he saw to the sketches with such accuracy that, according to eyewitnesses, people wanted to laugh along with the portraits.

Mona Lisa.

“Mona Lisa” aka “La Gioconda”, the full name is a portrait of Madame Lisa del Giocondo, perhaps the most famous work painting in the world. Leonardo wrote famous portrait from 1503 to 1506, but even during this period the portrait was not completely completed. Da Vinci did not want to part with his work, so the customer never received it, but it accompanied the master on all his travels until the very last day. After the artist's death, the portrait was transported to the castle of Fontainebleau.

Gioconda became the most mystical picture of all eras. It has become the subject of research artistic technique for craftsmen of the 15th century. During the Romantic era, artists and critics admired its mystery. By the way, it is to the figures of this era that we owe such a magnificent aura of mystery accompanying the Mona Lisa. The era of romanticism in art simply could not do without the mystical surroundings inherent in all brilliant masters and their works.

The plot of the picture is known to everyone today: a mysteriously smiling woman in the background mountain landscape. However, numerous studies are revealing more and more details that were not previously noticed. So, upon closer examination, it is clear that the lady in the portrait is dressed in full accordance with the fashion of her time, with a dark transparent veil draped over her head. It would seem that there is nothing special about this.

Compliance with fashion can only mean that the woman does not belong to the poorest family. But carried out in 2006. Canadian scientists are more than detailed analysis using modern laser equipment showed that this veil, in fact, envelops the entire body of the model. It is this very thin material that creates the effect of fog, which was previously attributed to the famous sfumato by da Vinci. It is known that similar veils, enveloping the entire body, and not just the head, were worn by pregnant women. It is quite possible that it is precisely this state that is reflected in the smile of Mona Lisa: the peace and tranquility of the expectant mother. Even her hands are arranged in such a way, as if they are ready to rock a baby. By the way, the name “La Gioconda” itself also has a double meaning. On the one hand, this is a phonetic variation of the Giocondo surname, to which the model herself belonged. On the other hand, this word is similar to the Italian “giocondo”, i.e. happiness, peace. Doesn't this explain the depth of the gaze, the gentle half-smile, and the whole atmosphere of the picture, where twilight reigns? Quite possible. This is not just a portrait of a woman. This is a depiction of the very idea of ​​peace and serenity. Perhaps this is precisely why she was so dear to the author.

Now the Mona Lisa painting is in the Louvre, belongs to the Renaissance style. The dimensions of the painting are 77 cm x 53 cm.

“The Last Supper” is a fresco created by da Vinci in 1494-1498. for the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Gresi, Milan. The fresco depicts the biblical scene of the last evening spent by Jesus of Nazareth, surrounded by his twelve disciples.

In this fresco, da Vinci tried to embody all his knowledge about the laws of perspective. The hall in which Jesus and the apostles are sitting is painted with exceptional precision in terms of proportions and distance of objects. The background of the room, however, is visible so clearly that it is almost a second picture rather than just a background.

Naturally, the center of the entire work is Christ himself, and it is in relation to his figure that the rest of the composition of the fresco is planned. The arrangement of the students (4 groups of three people) is symmetrical relative to the center - the Teacher, but not among themselves, which creates a feeling of living movement, but at the same time a certain aura of loneliness around Christ is felt. An aura of knowledge that is not yet available to his followers. Being the center of the fresco, the figure around which the whole world seems to revolve, Jesus still remains alone: ​​all other figures seem to be separated from him. The entire work is enclosed in a strict rectilinear framework, limited by the walls and ceiling of the room, and the table at which the participants of the Last Supper sit. If, for clarity, we draw lines along those points that are directly related to the perspective of the fresco, we will get an almost ideal geometric grid, the “threads” of which are aligned at right angles to each other. Such limited precision is not found in any other work by Leonardo.

The Abbey of Tongerlo, Belgium, houses an amazing exact copy“The Last Supper”, made by masters of Da Vinci’s school according to his own initiative, because the artist was afraid that the fresco in the Milan monastery would not stand the test of time. It was this copy that the restorers used to recreate the original.

The painting is located in Santa Maria delle Grazie and measures 4.6 m x 8.8 m.

Vitruvian Man

"Vitruvian Man" is the common name for a graphic drawing by da Vinci made in 1492. as an illustration for entries in one of the diaries. The picture shows a nude male figure. Strictly speaking, these are even two images of one figure superimposed on each other, but in different poses. A circle and a square are described around the figure. The manuscript containing this drawing is sometimes also called the “Canon of Proportions” or simply “Proportions of Man.” Now this work is kept in one of the museums of Venice, but is exhibited extremely rarely, since this exhibit is truly unique and valuable both as a work of art and as a subject of research.

Leonardo created his “Vitruvian Man” as an illustration of the geometric studies he carried out based on the treatise of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius (hence the name of da Vinci’s work). In the treatise of the philosopher and researcher, the proportions of the human body were taken as the basis for all architectural proportions. Da Vinci applied the research of the ancient Roman architect to painting, which once again clearly illustrates the principle of the unity of art and science put forward by Leonardo. In addition, this work also reflects the master’s attempt to relate man to nature. It is known that da Vinci considered the human body as a reflection of the universe, i.e. was convinced that it functions according to the same laws. The author himself considered the Vitruvian Man as a “cosmography of the microcosm.” In this drawing there is hidden an equally deep symbolic meaning. The square and circle in which the body is inscribed do not simply reflect physical, proportional characteristics. The square can be interpreted as the material existence of a person, and the circle represents its spiritual basis, and the points of contact geometric shapes between themselves and with the body, inserted into them can be considered as the connection of these two foundations human existence. For many centuries, this drawing was considered as a symbol of the ideal symmetry of the human body and the universe as a whole.

The drawing was made in ink. Dimensions of the picture: 34 cm x 26 cm. Genre: Abstract art. Direction: High Renaissance.

The fate of the manuscripts.

After the death of da Vinci in 1519. all the manuscripts of the great scientist and painter were inherited by Leonardo’s favorite student, Francesco Melzi. Fortunately, the bulk of the drawings and notes left by da Vinci, made by his famous method of mirror writing, have survived to this day, i.e. from right to left. Without a doubt, Leonardo left behind the largest collection of works of the Renaissance, but after his death, the manuscript did not have an easy fate. It’s even surprising that after so many ups and downs, the manuscripts still survived to this day.
Today scientific works da Vinci are far from the same appearance that the Master gave them, who with special care grouped them according to the principles he knew. After the death of Malzi, the heir and keeper of the manuscripts, his descendants began to mercilessly squander the legacy of the great scientist, apparently without even knowing about his true value. Initially, the manuscripts were simply stored in the attic; later the Malze family gave away some of the manuscripts and sold individual sheets to collectors by friends for a ridiculous price. Thus, all of da Vinci's records found new owners. It’s fortunate that not a single sheet was lost!

However, the power of evil fate did not end there. The manuscripts came to Pompeo Leoni, the court sculptor of the Spanish royal house. No, they were not lost, everything turned out to be much worse: Leoni undertook to “put in order” Da Vinci’s numerous notes, based, naturally, on his own principles of classification, and completely mixed up all the pages, separating, where possible, texts from sketches, but purely scientific, in his opinion, treatises from notes directly related to painting. Thus, two collections of manuscripts and drawings appeared. After Leoni's death, one part of the collection returned to Italy and until 1796. kept in the library of Milan. Some of the works came to Paris thanks to Napoleon, but the rest was “lost” among Spanish collectors and was discovered only in 1966 in the archives of the National Library in Madrid.

To date, all known da Vinci manuscripts have been collected, and almost all of them are in state museums in European countries, with the exception of one, miraculously still remains in a private collection. From the middle of the 19th century. Art researchers are working to restore the original classification of manuscripts.

Conclusion.

According to da Vinci's last will, sixty beggars accompanied his funeral cortege. The great Renaissance master was buried in the chapel of Saint-Hubert, in the vicinity of the castle of Amboise.
Da Vinci remained lonely all his life. Having neither a wife, nor children, nor even his own home, he devoted himself entirely to scientific research and art. The fate of geniuses is such that during their lifetime and after their death, their works, into each of which a particle of soul was invested, remain the only “family” of their creator. This happened in the case of Leonardo. However, everything that this man did, who managed to fully comprehend and embody the spirit of the Renaissance in his creations, has today become the property of all humanity. Fate itself arranged everything in such a way that without having his own family, da Vinci passed on a huge inheritance to all of humanity. Moreover, this includes not only unique recordings and amazing works, but also the mystery that surrounds them today. There was not a single century in which they did not try to unravel one or another plan of da Vinci, to look for what was considered lost. Even in our century, when many previously unknown things have become commonplace, the manuscripts, drawings and paintings of the great Leonardo do not leave museum visitors, art critics, or even writers indifferent. They still serve as an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Is this not the true secret of immortality?

Vitruvian Man

Madonna Benoit

Madonna Litta

Epochs High Renaissance. And then there’s the recent success of Dan Brown’s book “The Da Vinci Code” and its film adaptation. It is not surprising that Leonardo’s works are always shrouded in mystery - you can expect anything from such a genius! So 10 best works Leonardo da Vinci:

1

This half-length portrait of an Italian woman against the backdrop of a beautiful mountain landscape is well known throughout the world, and not only for its artistic qualities: in 1911 it was stolen by a Louvre guard and found only 2 years later. This incident added to the popularity of the painting, and now Mona Lisa occupies an honorable separate place in the Louvre.

2

The amazing fresco was created in 1795-1498. in the refectory of the monastery of Santa Maria (Milan). It depicts the scene of the last supper of Jesus Christ surrounded by the apostles. Art critics believe that the artist reproduced the moment when the Savior tells his disciples that one of them will betray him. This is a true milestone of Renaissance art! In it, da Vinci used the correct reproduction of the depth of perspective (which was new) - thanks to it, the image acquired depth and liveliness.

3

This is a drawing created as an illustration for a book about the works of Vitruvius (Roman encyclopedist). This drawing clearly shows the image of a man in two positions, one on top of the other. What's special about this drawing? They call him canonical proportion. "Vitruvian Man" received the status of a work of art and scientific work.

4

The most reliable source of our knowledge of what he looked like great artist- This is his Turin self-portrait. It was made with sanguine on paper, but over time it was quite damaged, and at the moment not exhibited. There are a lot of speculations around the drawing: in particular, some studies have found that it is a sketch for the painting “Mona Lisa”!

One of the recurring themes in da Vinci's paintings was the Madonna and Child, a traditional religious subject. "Madonna Litta" became one of best paintings this topic. It's all about the perfection of lines and shapes - for example, pay attention to how harmoniously the figure of a nursing mother is combined with the clear lines of the window openings depicted in the background. IN present moment kept in the Hermitage.

6

One of early paintings Leonardo da Vinci. There is no perspective in it yet (it was simply not used before Leonardo), but carefully drawn folds on the clothes and the expressive hands of the Virgin Mary are already visible. By the way, the wings of the Archangel Gabriel were initially more proportional, but later some unknown artist I finished drawing them, and the wings turned out to be somewhat bulky.

7

The earliest, most touching and spontaneous of all Leonardo da Vinci's Madonnas. All the works he created later (including the aforementioned Litta) are close to it in style and composition. The image of a young mother conveys gentleness and tranquility. Some researchers explain a certain disproportion of the child’s body by the absence of a baby sitter for the artist, and yet it is strange to suspect the great master of drawing “at random”! Most likely, he wanted to emphasize the unearthly origin of this child.

8

This is just a sketch made with pencil and chalk, but it also amazes art connoisseurs with the careful depiction of details (for example, curls of hair) and the accurate transmission of emotions manifested in the eyes of a young woman, the curve of her lips...

9

The painting was painted towards the end of the 15th century. The girl in the picture is presumably Cecilia Galleroni, the favorite of Duke Ludovico Sforzi, because at the time the picture was painted, da Vinci was in the service of this nobleman. But this painting is not at all like a standard portrait of a beautiful grande dame. The figure is depicted in three-quarter view, and the gaze is directed to the side (da Vinci's innovation). By the way, the girl herself is not such an “air nymph” at all: despite her attractiveness, the hard fold of her lips betrays her imperious character. Just like the hand that holds the animal - supposedly carefully, but at the same time tenaciously (and da Vinci’s hands always turned out to be very expressive). Well, in order to become the favorite of such a noble man, an iron character was indeed required...

10

A figure depicted quite often in painting, but how was the Baptist usually depicted? A middle-aged man, with a beard and a stern look... But not a sweet smiling young man, as Leonardo portrayed him! The painting belongs to the late period of the artist’s work. It is surprising that there is no usual picturesque landscape in the background: John’s light body stands out against the gloomy monotonous background.
Each of these works, despite the fact that they are very different, is a whole era in art. Is it any wonder why Leonardo da Vinci is considered the greatest artist?