Paintings of Leonardo da Vinci in Italy: where you can see the master’s masterpieces. Great paintings by Leonardo da Vinci

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 a beautiful background mountain landscape well known throughout the world, and not only for its artistic qualities: in 1911 it was stolen by a Louvre security 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 about 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 Madonnas by Leonardo da Vinci. 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 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 often depicted 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?

The genius of the mysterious Italian painter, the architect, scientist and inventor continues to fascinate and intrigue generations of people. Leonardo da Vinci vividly embodied the image of the “universal man” of the Renaissance, reaching amazing heights in various fields arts and sciences. The artist's canvases are unique masterpieces pictorial art and famous all over the world. Let's consider the most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci.

Madonna with carnation1480 year

"Madonna of the Carnation" 1480 is notable for the fact that this is the first completely independent work young genius. Leonardo painted this canvas while studying in the studio of the artist Verrocchio, but his unique individual style was already clearly visible on it. The work is imbued with harmony, but the position of the hands of the baby and mother create a disturbing impression, as does the landscape that is visible from the window behind them. The plot of the picture is also imbued with tragedy: Madonna hands the child a carnation, a symbol of the future Passion of the Lord.

Madonna with a spindle1501 year

“Madonna with a spindle” 1501- one of the most famous lost paintings by Leonardo da Vinci - only copies of the original work, painted by the artist together with his students, have survived. The plot of the picture is dedicated to the future suffering of Christ, the gestures and poses of the figures are full of symbolism and deep meaning. The face of the young Madonna expresses love and tenderness, as if she is trying to distract the baby, but he has turned away from his mother and sadly looks at the spindle in his hands, shaped like a crucifixion cross.

Portrait of Ginevra de Benci1476 year

“Portrait of Ginevra de Benci” 1476- portrait related to early period creativity of the artist and is one of the most famous paintings Leonardo da Vinci. The young poetess is depicted against the backdrop of juniper, whose Italian name"Ginepro" sounds like her name. The portrait is distinguished by psychological authenticity and innovation - the artist did not depict the girl according to the usual canons, she does not wear jewelry or heavy expensive fabrics, her main adornment is her spirituality and intelligence, reflected in her deep eyes. The coloring is also unusual, emphasizing the perspective and interior space of the painting.

John the Baptist1508 year

"John the Baptist" circa 1508 - This painting by Leonardo da Vinci is known for its unusualness and mystery. The canvas belongs to the late period of the artist’s work and differs significantly from his usual style. There is no familiar landscape in the background; the naked figure of John the Baptist seems to be enveloped in darkness. The young man smiles, holding a crucifix to his chest with one hand and pointing to the sky with the other. Some art critics attribute ambiguity and erotic overtones to his gestures and ironic smile.

Annunciation 1475 year

"Annunciation" 1475- the painting was commissioned by the church and stands out among the artist’s works with its strangely disconnected composition, falling apart in two. Despite the shortcomings, this painting by Leonardo is one of the most famous, thanks to the amazing perfection of details and especially botanical motifs - the grass and flowers on foreground, and trees in the harbor in the background. The folds of Mary and the Angel's clothes softly and naturally fit the body without hiding the outline of the figure, which was also an innovation in Leonardo's time. The imperfection of the composition is also redeemed by the carefully worked perspective.

Lady with an ermine1490 year

"Lady with an Ermine" 1490- one of the most famous portraits brushes by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting a young girl with an ermine in her arms. Her head is turned, as if something out of sight has caught her attention - this movement enlivens the portrait and gives it mystery. The girl’s graceful hand touches the back of the animal, her fingers stroke the soft fur - the image of the hand is made with amazing skill. The background of the portrait is impenetrably black, evokes a feeling of mystery and directs the viewer’s attention to the details of the girl’s face and clothing. A special X-ray study showed that the artist rewrote the painting several times, and in one of the versions there was an open window in the background.

last supper 1495 year

"Last Supper" 1495- this fresco, painted on the wall of the refectory of the monastery in Milan, is unfortunately poorly preserved, but is one of the most popular works of Leonardo da Vinci, which was promoted by Dan Brown's book. The artist depicted the moment when Christ reveals to his disciples the betrayal of Judas. The painting amazes with the careful attention to detail and the variety of expressive poses and gestures of the characters - to work on the fresco, Leonardo made many sketches from life. The horizontal composition with the figure of Christ in the center is unusual, balanced by a perfect perspective, creating the illusion that the refectory room continues with the space of the picture.

Madonna in the Grotto 1486 year

"Madonna in the Grotto" 1486- the canvas is part of a polyptych painted to be placed in a church. The arrangement of the figures of Mary, John the Baptist, Christ and the angel forms a strikingly harmonious composition in the form of a pyramid. The picture represents one of the most bright examples Leonardo's mastery in working with light and forming light and shadow perspective. The plot takes place inside a shady stone grotto, the figures of the characters are illuminated only by weak rays penetrating into the cave through piles of rocks. A deeply mysterious and gloomy atmosphere, many implicit symbols and details distinguish the artist’s style here.

1495 year

"Madonna Litta" 1495- the plot of the picture corresponds to the church canons of the image of the Mother of God. The Madonna carefully supports the baby whom she is breastfeeding, the face turned to him is illuminated with deep tenderness and love. The Christ Child trustingly clings to his mother, but his gaze is directed at the viewer, in his hand he squeezes a small chick - a symbol human soul. The colors chosen by Leonardo for Mary’s clothing also have a canonical meaning: azure blue is a symbol of purity and holiness, and bright scarlet is a symbol of the future suffering of Christ. This work stands out among the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci for its light coloring and sense of sublime serenity and harmony.

Mona Lisa 1515 year

"Mona Lisa" 1515- of course, we cannot ignore probably the most famous of Leonardo da Vinci’s works. "La Gioconda" is considered the standard in portrait painting, its composition, rhythm and color are recognized as impeccable. The space of the painting is filled with amazing diffused light, and the work itself is done with such masterful and light strokes that it is impossible to see their boundaries, and the image of the woman looks strangely alive. A special property of the painting is the feeling of mystery that it evokes. The famous elusive smile of Gioconda catches the eye and seems to cast a mysterious shadow over the portrait, captivating the viewer. The landscape in the background also gives the impression of witchcraft, as if it is out of this world.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519) was a famous Italian Renaissance architect, musician, inventor, engineer, sculptor and brilliant artist. He has been described as the archetype of the "Renaissance man" and universal genius. Leonardo is widely known for his unique paintings such as the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. He is also famous for his many inventions. In addition, he helped in the development of anatomy, astronomy and urban planning.

During the Renaissance there were many brilliant sculptors, artists, musicians, and inventors. Leonardo da Vinci stands out against their background. He created musical instruments, he owns many engineering inventions, wrote paintings, sculptures and much more.
His external data is also amazing: tall, angelic appearance and extraordinary strength. Let's meet the genius Leonardo da Vinci, short biography will tell you his main achievements.

Biography facts
He was born near Florence in the small town of Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci was the illegitimate son of a famous and wealthy notary. His mother is an ordinary peasant woman. Since the father had no other children, at the age of 4 he took little Leonardo to live with him. The boy demonstrated his extraordinary intelligence and friendly character from the very beginning. early age, and he quickly became a favorite in the family.
To understand how the genius of Leonardo da Vinci developed, a brief biography can be presented as follows:
At the age of 14, he entered Verrocchio's workshop, where he studied drawing and sculpture.
In 1480 he moved to Milan, where he founded the Academy of Arts.
In 1499, he left Milan and began moving from city to city, where he built defensive structures. During this same period, his famous rivalry with Michelangelo began.
Since 1513 he has been working in Rome. Under Francis I, he becomes a court sage.
Leonardo died in 1519. As he believed, nothing he started was ever completed.

Creative path
The work of Leonardo da Vinci, whose brief biography was outlined above, can be divided into three stages.
Early period. Many works of the great painter were unfinished, such as the “Adoration of the Magi” for the monastery of San Donato. During this period the paintings " Madonna Benoit", "Annunciation". Despite his young age, the painter already demonstrated high skill in his paintings.
Mature period Leonardo's creativity took place in Milan, where he planned to make a career as an engineer. Most popular work, written at this time, was “The Last Supper”, at the same time he began work on “Mona Lisa”.
IN late period creativity, the painting “John the Baptist” and a series of drawings “The Flood” were created.

Painting always complemented science for Leonardo da Vinci, as he sought to capture reality.

The most famous paintings of Leonardo

Annunciation (1475-1480) - Uffizi, Florence, Italy

Ginevra de Benci (~1475) - National Gallery Arts, Washington, DC, USA.

Benois Madonna (1478-1480) - Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

Adoration of the Magi (1481) - Uffizi, Florence, Italy

Cecilia Gallerani with Ermine (1488-90) - Czartoryski Museum, Krakow, Poland

Musician (~1490) - Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan, Italy

Madonna Litta, (1490-91) - Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia

La Belle Ferroniere, (1495-1498) - Louvre, Paris, France

Last Supper (1498) - Nunnery Maria Delle Grazie Station, Milan, Italy

Madonna of the Grotto (1483-86) - Louvre, Paris, France

Madonna in the Grotto or Virgin in the Grotto (1508) - National Gallery, London, England

Leda and the Swan (1508) - Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy

Mona Lisa or Gioconda - Louvre, Paris, France

Madonna and Child with St. Anne (~1510) - Louvre, Paris, France

John the Baptist (~1514) - Louvre, Paris, France

Bacchus, (1515) - Louvre, Paris, France.

Madonna with carnation

Anonymous 17th century (based on a lost original) - Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

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 the greatest sculptors and artists in Italy, 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 the depiction of 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 options 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. The 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 a 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 wife of a Florentine merchant is represented in the painting. 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, those 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.

At the age of 14 he began studying artistic arts in Verrocchio's workshop, and after just five years he himself was already called a real master. Recognized genius Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci was not only talented artist. He perfectly mastered playing the lyre, and many said that the young man also learned painting from himself.

Leonardo da Vinci had a gift for which the name “divination” fits perfectly. He left his descendants mysterious and brilliant ideas, made discoveries in many existing sciences, and da Vinci’s sketches and paintings became a kind of proof of the artist’s unique genius. The scope of his talents was truly limitless: arch bridge designs, wetland drainage systems, weaving looms, textile machines, and even powerful cranes, the creation of which no one could have previously imagined.

Not only unique inventions, but also Da Vinci’s paintings, which still amaze the most sophisticated art lovers, cause great resonance.

Painting greatest master seems incredible, and da Vinci’s painting “Portrait of Himself in Old Age” is considered one of the artist’s “unearthly” works. According to experts, Leonardo da Vinci created this painting around 1512, when he was 60 years old. To see the masterpiece with your own eyes, you will have to visit the Royal Library of Turin.

The peculiarity of the mysterious work is that the viewer looks at the same person, whose expression and facial features change depending on the angle of observation. The hero of the self-portrait looks like a determined old man, an arrogant and arrogant old man, or a frightened, decrepit and weak old man.

Gained worldwide fame mysterious picture da Vinci, aka “Mona Lisa”, aka “La Gioconda”. The sly smile and omnipresent gaze of the girl in the portrait haunted various researchers for several centuries. Just as the model’s personality did not leave her alone. But the classic version says that Leonardo da Vinci portrayed the wife of a silk merchant from Florence, Lisa Ghirardini.

Da Vinci’s paintings such as “Madonna with a Flower” and “Madonna with a Flower”, which the artist dedicated to one of the main events of the “New Testament,” became no less popular. But Leonardo da Vinci has works that are familiar only to a few of the most devoted fans of his work.

In Windsor there is a canvas on which the master depicted a mysterious creature of unearthly origin. Over time, this painting by da Vinci has suffered significantly, but the widely spaced, huge eyes of the creature painted on it remain visible. They make a literally paralyzing impression on all viewers, but the opinions of experts about who is depicted on the canvas do not coincide. Some of them believe that Leonardo da Vinci depicted the image of Beatrice, so dearly loved by Dante. At the same time, others are firmly convinced: an earthly woman anatomically cannot have such facial features.

There was a certain period in the artist’s life when he temporarily abandoned art, giving preference to science. Fra Novellara, Leonardo da Vinci's closest friend, noted that mathematics studies alienated the master from painting so much that just the sight of a brush could drive him into a rage.

But this did not last long, and Leonardo da Vinci created several more world-famous paintings and painted the Florentine hall Great Council at Palazzo Vecchio. Unfortunately, this painting began to collapse even while the artist was still working on it. And to this day, only a few sketches and sketches remain of it, on which the legendary da Vinci worked.

ABOUT genius artist it was often said that he was a messenger of the future or an “alien” who came to us from a more developed extraterrestrial civilization. And the legendary paintings of Leonardo da Vinci make you believe it, don’t they?