LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

Attributed to Piero del POLLAIUOLO and his workshop Florence, about 1441/1442–about 1496 The Battle of Pydna The Triumph of Aemilius Paulus Distemper on panel About 1470–1475 These two panels from cassoni (decorative chests) are painted with scenes from Roman history.They were produced in Florence for the Mannelli family, whose arms are featured on the shield of one of the putti decorating the triumphal chariot.They are attributed to the workshop of either Verrocchio or the Pollaiuolo brothers. The figures’ intense expressions, the anatomical details and the sensitive rendering of the landscape recall the style of Leonardo. Some historians believed he may have contributed to these works. Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris, inv. MJAP-P-1822-2 and MJAP-P-1822-1 Alesso BALDOVINETTI Florence, about 1425–Florence, 1499 Virgin and Child Distemper and tempera grassa on panel About 1464 In Florence, Leonardo was able to see the works of Alesso Baldovinetti, one of the first painters to experiment with mixed techniques to create new effects of realism.This majestic Virgin and Child, which has recently undergone conservation treatment, features a magnificent naturalistic landscape reminiscent of the valley of the Arno; the gradations of colour and shading of the flesh tones give it a particular softness. The painter’s innovative technique also enabled him to depict the transparency of the Virgin’s veil. Department of Paintings, Musée du Louvre, Paris, RF 1112 0 23 0 24