2015年6月11日 星期四

Leonardo da Vinci: Virtutem Forma Decorat... “Ginevra de Benci" ; Painter at the Court of Milan (London)


On the back of Ginevra is a second “portrait,” an emblematic image of a wreath of laurel and palm, symbols of intellectual and moral virtue, encircling a sprig of juniper, a reference to the sitter’s name and to chastity. Curling around all three is a scroll with the Latin inscription VIRTUTEM FORMA DECORAT, which has been interpreted to mean “beauty adorns virtue.”
Art historians debate several questions about Ginevra: Who commissioned the portrait? What was its function? Was the front painted at the same time as the back? Some suggest it was commissioned by her family possibly to commemorate her engagement. Others believe Bernardo Bembo, her platonic lover, may have commissioned the work as a gesture of his admiration and friendship. One scholar rejects both arguments in favor of an interpretation that Ginevra’s portrait is an example of a new kind of woman, intellectual and creative, just starting to emerge in the Renaissance.
Which argument do you prefer and why?
Leonardo da Vinci, “Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat” [reverse], c. 1474/1478, tempera on panel



Throughout his life, Leonardo embraced opportunities to experiment with materials and explore artistic approaches. Ginevra’s portrait was among his earliest encounters with the medium of oil paint; some wrinkling of the surface shows he was still learning to control it.
The careful observation of nature and subtle three-dimensionality of Ginevra’s face show the new naturalism with which Leonardo would transform Renaissance painting. This was one of the first portraits created in Florence that showed a sitter outdoors.
Some might call this the first psychological portrait. If Ginevra could speak, what might she say? What does Leonardo’s portrait reveal about her personality?
Use the zoom feature on our website to get a closer look at Leonardo’s technique: http://1.usa.gov/1EYvevk
Leonardo da Vinci, "Ginevra de' Benci [detail]," c. 1474/1478, oil on panel


Leonardo da Vinci was a student of Andrea del Verrocchio, the leading Florentine sculptor of the day. This painted terracotta bust depicts the de facto leader of Florence during the High Renaissance, Lorenzo de’ Medici. Machiavelli called him “the greatest patron of literature and art that any prince had ever been.” He supported artists like da Vinci and his contemporaries, Botticelli and Michelangelo.
Leonardo was working in Verrocchio’s studio when he painted Ginevra de’ B⋯⋯
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Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most intriguing personalities in the history of Western art, was born on this day in 1452. Celebrate with this essay about the artist and view a slideshow of works:http://met.org/1CVHpFc
Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1425–1519) | The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right | 1508–12



National Gallery of Art
It's a wrap for our ‪#‎ArtAtoZ‬ exploration of ‪#‎frames‬. Take a look back at what we've covered and tell us: What surprised you?
https://storify.com/ngadc/artatoz-frames
Here is one last tidbit of information: When Leonardo da Vinci’s “Ginevra de Benci" arrived at the Gallery she was put into an Italian-style frame with a very deep cove. It cast a bumpy shadow across her forehead because the outermost edge was beaded! That frame was also very deep and overpowered Ginevra, so a replacement was purchased from London. Here you can see her in that frame which is 16th-century Cassetta-style. Its shallow profile brings the painting forward and the tonality of the frame compliments our beautiful Ginevra. Do you want to see the back of the painting? Come to the Gallery!

  1. Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan ... - National Gallery

  2. www.nationalgallery.org.uk/.../leonardo-da-v... - 頁庫存檔 - 翻譯這個網頁
    'Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan' is the most complete display of Leonardo's rare surviving paintings ever held. This unprecedented exhibition ...
  3. Leonardo da Vinci | artist | 1452 - 1519 | The National Gallery, London

    www.nationalgallery.org.uk/.../leonardo-da-v... - 頁庫存檔 - 翻譯這個網頁
    Explore information about the artist: Leonardo da Vinci. See list of ...
  4. Leonardo da Vinci | The Virgin of the Rocks ... - National Gallery

    www.nationalgallery.org.uk/.../leonardo-da-v... - 頁庫存檔 - 翻譯這個網頁
    View: Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin of the Rocks. Read about this painting ...
  5. The National Gallery, London: Western European painting 1250–1900

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    The National Gallery houses the national collection of Western European ...
  6. Leonardo da Vinci show at National Gallery to limit visitor numbers ...

    www.guardian.co.uk/.../leonardo-da-vinci-na... - 頁庫存檔 - 翻譯這個網頁
    9 May 2011 – Major exhibition of artist's paintings in Milanese court aims to improve viewing experience by preventing large crowds • In pictures - Leonardo ...

  1. The great works of Leonardo da Vinci - CNN.com

    www.cnn.com/2011/11/03/.../da-vinci-great.../index.ht... - 翻譯這個網頁
    4 Nov 2011 – Painting conservator Dianne Modestini tells CNN about restoring Leonardo da Vinci's Christ. Leonardo: The man, the myth. updated 12:51 PM ...
  2. Fingerprint unmasks original da Vinci painting - CNN

    articles.cnn.com/.../da.vinci.portrait.found_1... - 頁庫存檔 - 翻譯這個網頁
    13 Oct 2009 – A smudged fingerprint has convinced art experts that a ...
  3. Leonardo Da Vinci - CNN.com

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    Before leaving Italy, she thanked "those who were close, those who prayed ...
  4. Leonardo da Vinci - CNN.com

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    A newly discovered painting by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci has sent ...
  5. Club Da Vinci @ CNN & DEBÜT - YouTube



    www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH1amBuz_Hg2010年11月25日 - 2 分鐘 - 上傳者:SzegediImre74
    Club Da Vinci @ CNN & DEBÜT. SzegediImre74 44 videos. Subscribe Alert icon Subscribed. Sign In or Sign Up now ...


Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Burlington House Cartoon' is one incredible drawing in our collection: http://bit.ly/1v3HsdV Usually, in order to transfer a design onto a panel, the outlines of cartoons were pricked or incised. This example is intact. It must have been preserved in its own right as a finished drawing, although some areas have deliberately been left inconclusive or in rough outline.
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Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘The Virgin of the Rocks’ 

Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan

Date and time

9 November 2011 – 5 February 2012
Sainsbury Wing
Full opening times
‘Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan’ is the most complete display of Leonardo’s rare surviving paintings ever held. This unprecedented exhibition – the first of its kind anywhere in the world – brings together sensational international loans never before seen in the UK.

Leonardo the artist

While numerous exhibitions have looked at Leonardo da Vinci as an inventor, scientist or draughtsman, this is the first to be dedicated to his aims and techniques as a painter. Inspired by the recently restored National Gallery painting, The Virgin of the Rocks, this exhibition focuses on Leonardo as an artist. In particular it concentrates on the work he produced as court painter to Duke Lodovico Sforza in Milan in the late 1480s and 1490s.
As a painter, Leonardo aimed to convince viewers of the reality of what they were seeing while still aspiring to create ideals of beauty – particularly in his exquisite portraits – and, in his religious works, to convey a sense of awe-inspiring mystery.

Works on display

Featuring the finest paintings and drawings by Leonardo and his followers, the exhibition examines Leonardo’s pursuit for perfection in his representation of the human form. Works on display include ‘La Belle Ferronière’ (Musée du Louvre, Paris), the ‘Madonna Litta’ (Hermitage, Saint Petersburg) and ‘Saint Jerome’ (Pinacoteca Vaticana, Rome).
The two versions of Leonardo’s ‘Virgin of the Rocks’ – belonging to the National Gallery and the Louvre – will also be shown together for the first time. Find out more about the two paintings.
The final part of the exhibition features a near-contemporary, full-scale copy of Leonardo’s famous ‘Last Supper’, on loan from the Royal Academy. Seen alongside all the surviving preparatory drawings made by Leonardo for the 'Last Supper', visitors will discover how such a large-scale painting was designed and executed.

Audio guide

An audio guide for 'Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan' will be available from exhibition ticket desks.

Exhibition guide

A free exhibition guide will be available to visitors, which provides an overview of the exhibition and includes labels of all the paintings on display.
PDF fileDownload the exhibition guide [PDF 610kb – opens in a new window]




‘Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan’ was one of our most memorable exhibitions, taking place from November 2011 until February 2012. Today, Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘The Virgin of the Rocks’ can be found on our Membership cards.

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