文档介绍：First created 11 Feb 2012. Version - 23 Feb 2012. Jerry Tse. London.
Leonardo da Vinci
All rights reserved. Rigd the angel and Mary demonstrate his use of the Chiaroscuro technique.
Early Florence Years
The Annunciation (Detail – Angel). 1472-74.
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.
The lily held by the Archangel Gabriel is a symbol of Mary’s purity.
Early Florence Years
Ginevra de Benci. C1474. National Gallery, Washington, USA.
Leonardo painted Ginevra with a stiff and solemn expression. This is rather an uneasy portrait showing little or no emotion.
Leonardo was the master of using the ‘Chiaroscuro’ technique, balancing the light and the dark areas. He often used a lighted subject against a skilfully darkened background.
The portrait of Ginevra shows the use of the technique of ‘Sfumato’ , The blurring of edges and smoothing colours between adjacent areas. Thus it eliminates harsh outlines. This was first introduced by Leonardo and Giorgione. This contrasts with Botticelli’s lining approach.
Comparison
Early Florence Years
Milan Years
The Milan Years
1483-1499
Ludovico Sforza. 1496-99. by Amrogio de Predis. Tempera on Vellum. Archivio Storico Civico and Biblioteca Trivulziana, Milan.
In 1482, Leonardo entered service of Ludovico II as military engineer and organiser of festivities, in Milan.
Milan Years
Because of the rigid pose and the harshness of the shadows, some scholars express their doubts that it was painted by Leonardo. Others pointed to the fine art of Leonardo’s work on the young man face. It is possible that there were more than one painters who worked on the portrait.
The young man has a distinctive stare at something outside the canvas, encapsulating a sense of reality. We only know that he was a musician by the musical score in his hand.
The Musician. c1485. Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan.
Milan Years
Virgin of the Rocks. 1483-1485.
Musee du Louvre, Paris.
Why are they in a cave?
Why is St John the Baptist wi