LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

Infrared reflectogram of The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist and an Angel, known as the Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci Oil on panel, transferred to canvas. About 1483–1494 The reflectogram of the Virgin of the Rocks highlights a signature characteristic of Leonardo’s paintings: the artist was never satisfied with the preparatory drawings he transferred onto panel – he reworked them constantly. In this case, he modified John the Baptist’s position and Jesus’s gesture of blessing. It is also interesting to see the final change made to the figure of the angel; the original position of the head in the reflectogram was transferred exactly onto the Head of aYoungWoman, now held in the Biblioteca Reale inTurin. Department of Paintings, Musée du Louvre, Paris, INV. 777 Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Compositional Studies for the Virgin of the Rocks Metalpoint reworked with pen and brown ink on pink prepared paper About 1483–1485 These studies show Leonardo’s various ideas for a figure of Mary adoring the Infant Jesus, sometimes accompanied by John the Baptist. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NewYork, inv. 1917.17.142.1 0 59 0 60