| ANGELOS | |||
|
|
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Born in Vinci, a suburb of Florence, Leonardo developed his talents as a versatile and practically universal artist and scientist. At the age of thirteen, he was apprenticed to Verrocchio, who is rumoured to have swiftly devoted himself purely to sculpture on discovering Leonardo’s great talent as a artist. Although a combined study of the fine arts and architecture was far from uncommon during the Renaissance, the restless Leonardo also took a keen interest in mechanics, the art of warfare, civil engineering and astronomy, as his countless remaining sketches attest. Having risen to fame within his own lifetime, he gained immortal status as the pioneer of the high renaissance with works such as the Mona Lisa. | ||
 AN 01 |
Annunciation (± 1473) Leonardo painted this large panel – over two metres in breadth – in Verrocchio’s studio. Although this early work is very much in keeping with the traditional style of his teacher in terms of composition and line technique, the master’s touch is already clearly discernible in the background and the figures. In the golden twilight, the raised hand of the angel, with its characteristic long fingers, forms a reflection of the wings. The facial expression portrays the glad tidings he is conveying to the youthful and highly attentive Virgin Mary. The ornamental table and the stilted structure are rather incongruous features, but these were presumably painted by lesser artists. Being a restless spirit, Leonardo often turned his back on a painting once he had completed the most interesting details. |
|
|
|
|
|||
| << previous page -home- | |||
