[MR] History Blog: Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog reports that scientific analysis of Leonardo da
Vinci's painting "The Virgin of the Rocks" shows an unknown version of the
underlaying drawing. The original composition had important differences
from the final painted version: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/56135
.

The owner of the painting, the National Gallery of London, is preparing a
major exhibition for the painting which will include simulations of
Leonardo's studio. A sneak preview is found at ttps://
www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/leonardo-experience-a-masterpiece .

There were actually two versions of the painting completed by Leonardo (or
his helpers). What is generally considered to the first hangs in the
Louvre. The second attempt is the London version referenced above.
Wikipedia offers an analysis and history of the two paintings at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_of_the_Rocks .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆