″Leonardo da Vinci – Painter at the Court of Milan″ has been published to accompany a major exhibition at the National Gallery from 9th November 2011 to 5th February 2012. The publication provides a fully-illustrated record of the exhibition which assembled the largest ever group of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) to be shown anywhere in the world. The works were created in the 1480/90s during the artist's time as court painter to Ludovico Maria Sforza (1452-1508), Duke of Milan.
The publication has been written by Luke Syson, Curator of Italian Paintings before 1500 and Head of Research at the National Gallery, London. Syson is also author of ″Renaissance Siena: Art for a City″, and co-author of ″Pisanello: Painter to the Renaissance Court″ and ″Objects of Virtue: Art in Renaissance Italy″. Syson is joined by Larry Keith, Director of Conservation at the National Gallery. Together, they examine Leonardo's working methods and career, during this very specific period, placing them in a detailed contextual framework.
″Leonardo...″ – Layout of the Publication
″Leonardo da Vinci – Painter at the Court of Milan″ opens with The Sponsor's Foreword; The Director's Foreword; and Acknowledgements. These are followed by two essays; ″The Rewards of Service: Leonardo da Vinci and the Duke of Milan″ by Luke Syson, and ″In Pursuit of Perfection: Leonardo's Painting Technique″ by Larry Keith.
″The Rewards of Service: Leonardo da Vincia and the Duke of Milan″
In this chapter Luke Syson charts Ludovico's rise to power and his eventual defeat. He also gives a fascinating account of the relationship between Ludovico and Leonardo showing how Ludovico's patronage gave the artist the time and space to develop his ideas on the purpose of art, and to perfect his technique. Syson sums it up well by quoting Giorgio Vasari, one of the earliest art historians, who in 1550 remarked on Leonardo's ″force and boldness of design, the subtlest counterfeiting of all the minutiae of Nature exactly as they are, with good rule, better order, correct proportion, perfect design and divine grace″. (Syson, L., "Leonardo da Vinci – Painter at the Court of Milan", National Gallery Company, p. 13.)
″In Pursuit of Perfection: Leonardo's Painting Technique″
Keith describes Leonardo as a ″personality and painter that is resistant to our understanding.″ (Ibid., page 55.) He discusses, in particular, the two versions of ″Virgin of the Rocks″, comparing and contrasting the two paintings and presenting the latest research findings. His examination of Leonardo's painterly technique provides a valuable insight into the artist's working methods. Keith tells a fascinating story.
Catalogue
The remainder of the publication takes the form of the Catalogue which includes contributions by Arturo Galansino, Antonio Mazzotta, Leah Kharibian, Minna Moore Ede, Per Rumberg, Scott Nethersole and Tatiana Kustodieva. With the exception of Tatiana Kustodieva, curator at the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, all contributors are present or former curatorial staff at the National Gallery. The Catalogue presents each exhibit accompanied by a detailed analysis together with the author's latest research. This section is divided into eight parts:
- The Eye and the Mind: Seeing and Believing
- The Musician in Milan: A Quiet Revolution
- Beauty and Love: Leonardo's Portraits of Women
- Body and Sul: Saint Jerome in Penitence
- Representing the Divine: The Virgin of the Rocks
- The Madonna Litta: Leonardo and his Companions
- Character and Emotion: The Last Supper
- The Miracle of Talent: Leonardo and the French
The publication concludes with a List of Lenders, Bibliography, Index and List of Photographic Credits.
″Leonardo...″ – a Book to Grace Every Bookshelf
″Leonardo da Vinci – Painter at the Court of Milan″ is a exceptional publication recording an exceptional exhibition. The book features over 190 colour reproductions, and a text that is scholarly, yet easily accessible to all readers. ″Leonardo...″ is an invaluable resource presenting the latest scientific research that will further clarify the bank of information already available. Neither the exhibition nor the publication would have been possible without the sponsorship of Credit Suisse.
The 320-page publication is published by the National Gallery, and available in English in hardback (ISBN: 978 1 85709 491 6) and paperback ( ISBN: 978 1 85709 490 9) editions, priced at £40 and £25 respectively. ″Leonardo...″ is also available in French (ISBN: 978 90 6153 122 7) priced at £25. Further information can be obtained from the National Gallery.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
