LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary,and the Infant Jesus Playing with a Lamb, known as Saint Anne Oil on poplar panel About 1503–1519 Leonardo began to work on his painting of Saint Anne in October 1503 and continued until his death. He was constantly adjusting the poses of the figures and the details of their hairstyles and costumes.The meaning of the composition also evolved, with the final version sug- gesting the elusive moment when the sadly smiling Mary acquiesces to the future death of her son. Department of Paintings, Musée du Louvre, Paris, INV. 776 Infrared reflectogram of Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary, and the Infant Jesus Playing with a Lamb, known as Saint Anne, by Leonardo da Vinci Oil on poplar panel. About 1503–1519 Musée du Louvre, Paris The infrared reflectogram of the painting shows traces of the transfer of the large cartoon (full-scale preliminary sketch). Saint Anne’s arm is visible behind Mary, attemp- ting to prevent her from keeping Jesus and the lamb apart. Leonardo eventually abandoned this idea, preferring to fo- cus on the mother’s conscious acceptance of her son’s fate. © C2RMF / Jean-Louis Bellec 163 164