LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Study for the Salvator Mundi Red chalk, touches of black and white chalk on red prepared paper About 1500–1506 Leonardo sketched this initial design for the right sleeve of Christ’s garment, but did not use it in the painting. The Royal Collection, Windsor, RL 12524, loaned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Study for the Salvator Mundi Red chalk, touches of black and white chalk, heightened with white on red prepared paper About 1500–1506 The lower right sketch shows the sleeve on Christ’s right arm as he makes a gesture of blessing; the central drawing is a study for the folds of his robe. Leonardo did not use the former design in his final painting, but the latter closely resembles the robe in the finished work. The Royal Collection, Windsor, RL 12525, loaned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 171 172 Leonardo probably designed an image of Christ as the Saviour of the world between 1500 and 1506, while he was in Florence. In the context of the Florentine Republic, the theme symbolised the fall of tyranny and the restoration of liberty, the Medici having been driven out of the city on 9 November 1494 (the feast day of the Holy Saviour).