LEONARDO DA VINCI 1452-1519

Leonardo da Vinci Vinci 1452–Amboise, 1519 Allegory with Solar Mirror Pen and brown ink About 1485–1490 In a rocky setting overhung by trees, a seated man holds a mirror with which he directs the sun’s rays towards the left, where six (mostly fantastical) animals are fighting.This allegory probably has a moral meaning: the virtuous man shines the light of the sun (a symbol of truth) onto the animals (representing the vices). Department of Prints and Drawings, Musée du Louvre, Paris, Inv. 2247 Leonardo da VINCI Vinci, 1452–Amboise, 1519 Allegory in Honour of Duke Ludovico il Moro? Red chalk reworked in pen and brown ink About 1490–1495 The man in the centre, with glasses in his hand, is aided by a person behind him as he points to a fleeing figure; the latter holds out a cloth featuring a bird pierced by an arrow. At the bottom of the sheet is a fragmentary inscription: … fleeing as the envious man, having spread dishonest calumny, cannot withstand confrontation ... Some of Leonardo’s writings suggest that this work could depict Ludovico il Moro, aided by Justice as he drives out Envy. Musée Bonnat, Bayonne, Inv. 656 0 71 0 72 I I i i, i , ll i i il Mor ( ) l r r i r i t i t tr , it l i i , i i r i i i t t i r ; t l t r l t l t f t ri ir i r r . t t t f t t i fr t r i ri ti : i t i , i r i t l , t it t fr t ti . f r ’s riti t t t t i r could depict Ludovico il M ro, aided by Justice as h drives out Envy. t, , I .