LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Virgin and Child, known as the Benois Madonna Oil on panel transferred to canvas About 1480–1482 The Benois Madonna is the result of one of the two projects undertaken by Leonardo in late 1478. The cross-shaped flower Mary is handing to Jesus prefigures the Passion of Christ.The Child solemnly takes it while his mother smiles in encouragement, joyful in the knowledge that her son’s death will procure salvation for humankind.This is the first of Leonardo’s paintings imbued with the dynamism of his componimento inculto (‘intuitive composition’). Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, inv. GE 2773 Infrared reflectogram of the Virgin and Child, known as the Benois Madonna, by Leonardo da Vinci Oil on panel transferred to canvas. About 1480–1482 Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg The reflectogram of the Benois Madonna reveals the many alterations (pentimenti) made during the painting process, particularly with regard to the distance between Jesus and his mother. The structure of the room is clearly visible, particularly the canopy over Mary’s bed in the top left. ©The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, 2019 0 39 0 40