Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Drawings


Stunning exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery of drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci from the Royal Collection.

Leonardo made an kept thousands of drawings which were inherited by his favourite pupil, Francesco Melzi. They were then acquired by the sculptor, Pompeo Leoni, who mounted them in two albums. By 1660s one of these was owned by the Duke of Arundel and was given to Charles II.

The drawings were arranged chronologically but with themed sections where they fit that chronology. They traced him moving between Florence and Milan and then on to France and covered artistic sketches as well as scientific ideas, anatomy and botanical studies and designs.

My favourite sections brought together studies for well know paintings which had large reproductions of the pictures for comparison. This includes a lovely head of the St Bartholomew in the Last Super and the beautiful study of hands for the Lady with the Ermine. I think my favourite was the study for the head of Leda which showed her elaborate hairstyle from three different angles.

The anatomical drawings are stunning and there were good commentaries explaining how they may have been done plus the accuracy of his understanding.

Most moving were the different designs for equestrian statues which he never managed to complete. I knew about the one for the Duke of Milan where the marquette in plaster was used for target practice by the invading French but hadn’t realised he had had two commissions which were never realised.

Closed on 13 October 2019

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