Saturday, March 10, 2012

Jeff's Met Picks: da Vinci

The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right
Leonardo da Vinci  (Italian, Vinci 1452–1519 Clos-Lucé)



The Met's Collection is arguably the most eclectic in the world. Although Italy and France are home to his most famous works, da Vinci is well represented here in a number of studies and drawings like this one in charcoal. That he could achieve such a painterly quality, such realism, evoke such ethereal maternal affection with a piece of chalk is astounding. My favorite left-hander in history, he was equally adept with his right hand, endlessly curious, an inventor of ideas that would eventually dominate our lives 600 years later, an acutely accurate anatomist, a passionate liver of life, he was the very model of what we now call "The Renaissance Man."

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