Think of the greatest artists of all time and you’ll most likely end up naming Leonardo da Vinci. Born in Anchiano, Tuscany, in 1452, Leonardo came to symbolize the true Renaissance man leaving a profound mark in art, science, engineering, and music.
His iconic paintings, from the world famous “Mona Lisa” to the “Virgin of the Rocks,” have enchanted viewers for more than 500 years. Now, a new exhibit at Milan’s Leonardo 3 Museum offers the chance to learn about da Vinci’s most impressive paintings in one single viewing.
The interactive experience “The Paintings of Leonardo,” developed by L3 Study Center, presents viewers with high-quality 3D renderings of 20 paintings completed across Leonardo’s 50-year career, including Mona Lisa, the Annunciation, the Virgin of the Rocks, the Last Supper, Saint John the Baptist, and Salvator Mundi.
“Our research center has been studying the work of Leonardo da Vinci for 20 years,” said Leonardo 3 Museum’s director Massimiliano Lisa in a press release. “This allows us, working only on Leonardo da Vinci, to do absolutely unprecedented things.”
By showcasing paintings spanning across da Vinci’s decades-long career, the interactive 3D wall allows viewers to appreciate the Renaissance genius’ artistic evolution. Martin Kemp, professor emeritus of Oxford University and world-renowned Leonardo expert who advised the design of the interactive elements, commented of the exhibition:
“Over the last 50 years a deluge of research has been poured into Leonardo. It has mainly concerned circumscribed themes and specific works of art. The time seems to be ripe for an overview of his path as a painter,” said Kemp. “It is an itinerary that begins with the detailed naturalism of the Annunciation and culminates in the spiritual mysteries of Saint John the Baptist. No painter has ever undertaken such a significant journey.”
The Paintings of Leonardos also offers an analytical tool to understand the structure and composition of Leonardo’s paintings, which mirror the design of various tools he prototyped including his famous airplane model.
As explained by Edoardo Zanon, scientific director of the Leonardo 3 Museum, da Vinci approached visual phenomena explored in his paintings such as shifting sunlight in the same way he approached his inventions. “I think the analogy between Leonardo the engineer and Leonardo the artist is very strong,” Zanon said.
“I am certain that The Paintings of Leonardo will become one of our main attractions, and together with the Hall dedicated to the Last Supper, it testifies to our focus on Leonardo as both inventor and artist, two souls intimately linked and inseparable” Leonardo 3 Musuem’s director Massilimilinao Lisa concluded.
The Leonardo3 Museum is located in Milan’s Piazza della Scala and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during weekdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
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