There are many famous Leonardo da Vinci paintings. These include the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Lady with an Ermine, and Salvator Mundi. But which one is most famous? You can learn more about each of them in this article.
Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait that has become a symbol of the Italian Renaissance. It has been called the world’s most famous painting and the most written about work of art. But what exactly is Mona Lisa and why is it so famous? The following answers will shed some light on this fascinating subject. The Mona Lisa is believed to be a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, a wealthy silk merchant’s wife. Its name comes from a common Italian word for ma’am, mona. In fact, the painting’s alternate name is La Giaconda, which literally means ‘jocund’. The sitter of Mona Lisa is believed to be a pregnant woman, and it’s thought that she was commissioned by a wealthy silk merchant. Learn more about Mona Lisa.
The Last Supper
This painting depicts the last supper, one of the most significant events in Jesus’ life. The disciples are seated at a large table, and each has an individual role to play. Jesus is the central figure, while Judas, Thomas, and James the Greater look at each other with disbelief. Matthew and Simon, who had been chosen to accompany Jesus, also gaze at Jesus with their gazes wide open. The last Supper is one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous paintings. Although Da Vinci did not use photographs of the disciples, he did use actual people for the facial features of the apostles. Some sources claim that Da Vinci went to prison in Milan to find a real criminal to model Judas’ facial features. Though this painting may not contain cryptic messages or references to the Bible, it is a masterpiece nonetheless. While it does feature a number of people, some scholars disagree that the Apostles are indeed Jesus’ disciples. Da Vinci did not include hidden symbols, but he did snuck references to his life into the painting. Although these references do not add any new information, they do enhance the overall meaning of the mural.
Salvator Mundi
One of the most famous paintings in the world is a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci called Salvator Mundi. Although the original painting has disappeared from public view since 1763, Salvator Mundi was later bought by Sir Charles Robinson as a work by Bernardino Luini, a follower of Leonardo. After the painting sold for $450 million at Christie’s in New York in 2016, it reappeared in auction once again, this time for PS45 — a new record. From then until 2005, it was lost until Christie’s bought it for PS55 million ($8 million). The painting is considered to be a work of autograph composition, as it is closely related to two preparatory drawings by the artist in Windsor Castle. The composition of ‘Salvator Mundi’ is also similar to that documented in an etching by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1650, but it is believed that Leonardo’s painting is superior to the other 20 known painted versions of the same composition.
Lady with an Ermine
The Lady with an Ermine was painted by Leonardo da Vinci in 1489–90. It depicts the mistress of Lodovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan. It is composed of rich, textured colors and a highly detailed composition. It is one of the few authentic panel paintings made by Leonardo. In his artistic pursuits, Da Vinci often worked with experimental materials and abandoned projects when he reached a certain level of formal difficulty. The Lady with an Ermine is an elegant image that reveals the artist’s genius.
Vitruvian Man
Originally a pen and ink drawing, the Vitruvian Man is one of Leonarda da Vinci’s most famous works. It shows a man in two superimposed positions, one of which resembles the other. Named for a famous architect, Marcus Vitruvius, the Vitruvian Man is an example of geometric composition. Da Vinci also included a text accompanying the painting explaining how the man can be arranged in different ways. Leonardo shows that he studied Vitruvius’s writings. Although Leonardo doesn’t strictly follow the ancient text, he still managed to make a unique design for this drawing. The square is centered at the groin, which differentiates it from earlier illustrations. Also, the arms of the man are raised at an angle that is roughly equivalent to the top of his head, while the hands of Vitruvius are drawn at a much lower angle.
Virgin of the Rocks
One of the most famous Leonardo da Vinci pictures, the Virgin of the Rocks, is a masterpiece in its own right. This complex painting demonstrates the artist’s scientific observations and innovations. Da Vinci started his painting career in Florence, but soon moved to Milan, where he was commissioned to paint this famous work. Here is a brief history of this painting and how it came to be. The Virgin of the Rocks is notable for its rocky and mysterious setting. The Virgin’s image isn’t set in some ideal landscape or heavenly place, but instead stands above a misty, rocky area. This dark and gloomy scene illustrates the artist’s technique of aerial perspective. The rocky background is a stunning backdrop for a stunning work of art. While there are many different versions of the Virgin of the Rocks, there is a consensus that the Louvre version is earlier than the one in the National Gallery in London. The London painting is slightly taller than its counterpart, and it is believed that both versions of the Virgin of the Rocks were painted by the artist. In addition to being the most famous Leonardo da Vinci painting, the Virgin of the Rocks has two different provenances. The Louvre version is believed to be the original work, while the London version is thought to be a partial copy.
Portrait of Ginevra Benci
A portrait by the 15th century Florentine aristocrat Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci is now on display in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It is the only Leonardo da Vinci painting on public display in the Americas. The portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci was painted by Leonardo to honor her in death. The painting has many nuances. For example, Da Vinci used the ends of his paintbrush to create ringlets on the portraitress’s hair. It is also noteworthy that the landscape is a backdrop of blue trees. The resulting painting was influenced by Da Vinci’s study of atmospheric effects, which inspired his ideas about aerial perspective. Lastly, the painting of Ginevra has a curly hairdo, which resembles light reflecting on moving water.
La Scapigliata
Although the title of the painting varies from version to version, the most common title is Lady with dishevelled hair. Leonardo created the eight-by-nine-inch painting in his mid-fifties. This piece is likely a preparatory drawing, but scholars agree that it was painted from a sketch. Leonardo was a master of facial expression and conveying mood. The subject of La Scapigliata is Ginevra de’ Benci, a teenaged daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker. The portrait is considered one of Leonardo’s early experiments with oil paint. The sitter’s face is a classic example of the new naturalism that characterized the Italian Renaissance. Leonardo was able to incorporate Ginevra’s sexy face into the landscape by placing her in an open setting and painting the background in a blue-gray tone, less detailed than the foreground landscape.
