How does Leonardo da Vinci Paint such enigmatic smiles and faces?
The Madonna seems to be glowing with pride, tenderness and love. Saint Anne looks at her daughter with so much warmth. The Madonna’s cheeks have a wonderful smoky effect - sfumato.
Using shading to fine-tune the expressiveness of the face.
This is the only surviving large-scale drawing by Leonardo da Vinci.
The Virgin Mary sitting on the lap of her mother, Saint Anne. Mary cradles the Christ Child in her arms, who reaches towards his cousin Saint John the Baptist with a gesture of blessing.The drawing is known today as The Burlington House Cartoon, after the building in which it was displayed when it was in the collection of the Royal Academy.
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Acquired by the National Gallery in 1962.
Truly wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt really is.
DeleteIt's a beauty.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Bill.
DeleteIt is a beautiful drawing, with so much wonderful detail
ReplyDeleteIt's a remarkable drawing, especially the glowing Madonna as you point out. One incidental thing I noticed is that the two women seem to be very encumbered by clothing!
ReplyDeleteI think it's because one is sitting on top of the other!
DeleteWhy is this the only surviving large-scale drawing by Leonardo da Vinci? Did he not do any other drawings in preparation for the final painting? Or were those drawings lost in his own lifetime or perhaps after?
ReplyDeleteHi Hels
DeleteHis only large scale drawing as a cartoon. Cartoons were use to prick tiny holes and then placed over the panel with charcoal dust pounced through the holes.
He made loads and loads of sketches - a lot of them in our Royal Collection in England.