In this article on Arthive, you will learn about 10 of the most famous paintings by the outstanding artist Leonardo da Vinci in the world of painting. Read the reports and reviews of the authors of Arthive.
If you are in the world of art, you must have heard of Da Vinci paintings. If you are interested in Leonardo da Vinci’s works of art, this article is the perfect read for you. He was a visionary when it came to his scientific inventions, but that was not it. He was also known for his paintings and art. Here, you will find information about all his art, from the first to Leonardo da Vinci’s last painting.
Mona Lisa, 1503
Undoubtedly one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous paintings, the Mona Lisa, is a work of art in itself. This archetypal masterpiece from the Italian renaissance has been the, talked-about, most written-about and sung about work in the world. This is essentially a painting of the Italian noblewoman Lisa Gherardini, made with oil on a white panel. Even though this belonged to the Giocondo family, Leonardo never gave it to them and later left it to Salai, his favorite apprentice, in his will. This painting was made from 1503 to 1506. However, it is rumored that Da Vinci kept working on this up until 1517. This art of Leonardo da Vinci has been on permanent display in Louvre, Paris, since the late 1790s. This painting also holds the Guinness World Record for the costliest known insurance valuation. If you are a fan of his work, you must see this Leonardo da Vinci’s famous art.Mona Lisa, 1503
Vitruvian Man, 1485
This is another one of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous works and exists in ink and paper. This drawing depicts a man in two superimposed positions. While the arms and legs are straight in one, the second image shows it to be held apart. Both are inscribed in a square and circle. This painting was also accompanied by notes based on Roman Architect Vitruvius’s works, where it gets its name from. This painting mainly demonstrates Leonardo’s depiction of the ideal proportions of the human body. While the inscription in a circle and square comes from the description in Vitruvius’s book, Leonardo did not follow the arm measurements mentioned in the same book. He included the ones that he found by measuring male models in Milan. This is surely one of the most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci.Vitruvian Man, 1485
Self Portrait, 1490/1515–16
Although not known by many commoners, the art community really reveres and considers the self-portraits, a few of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous paintings. While there were quite a few self-portraits Vinci made of himself, the most famous one out of all of Leonardo da Vinci’s artwork was the self-portrait made in Red Chalk. While it is very well known that Vinci was on the older side when this painting was made, he does not really look very aged in the painting. Critics often argue that this came out more from his likeness towards himself instead of an accurate representation of him. Other points kept aside; this portrait fits how Leonardo imagined himself perfectly. An esteemed, elderly man with severely shaded eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a long white beard was often the typical way of representing philosophers.Self Portrait, 1490/1515−16
The Last Supper, 1498
Known to be Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous painting, this work was estimated to have started between 1495 and 1496. It took Leonardo da Vinci about 2 years to be content with his work. One of Leonardo’s patrons, Ludovico Sforza, commissioned it as a part of renovation plans for the convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Italy. Not only is this a famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci, but it is also one of the most recognizable paintings in the western world. As the name suggests, this painting depicts the last meal of Christ along with his disciples and is quite a treat to the eyes. If you are interested in witnessing Da Vinci’s famous works, this is one you should not miss out on.The Last Supper, 1498
Ginevra de' Benci, 1474
The strange fact about this one is that this is one of the only renaissance Leonardo da Vinci paintings that is on public display in the Western Hemisphere. This Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait paintings are of Ginevra de' Benci, who was a rather popular Florentine woman. She was universally considered to be the painter’s sitter. This portrait was painted in Florence from 1474 to 1478. It was mainly to commemorate the sitter’s engagement at the age of 16. At that time, portraits of female figures were mainly commissioned because of two reasons, either to recognize a betrothal or a marriage. This was undoubtedly one of the more famous Da Vinci famous paintings of the time.Ginevra de' Benci, 1474
Madonna and the Child, 1490
More commonly known as the Madonna Litta, this painting is still relevant and known to be one of da Vinci’s most famous works. In this painting, you will see Virgin Mary breastfeeding an infant Christ. This image is a devotional subject is known as Madonna lactans. You will find the figures set in a dark interior with two arched openings on the sides. This is very similar to Leonardo da Vinci’s first painting of the same, known as Madonna of the Carnation. Through the opening, you can see a mountainous landscape . When you focus on the infant figure of Christ, you can see him only a goldfinch in his left hand, which also symbolizes future passion.Madonna and the Child, 1490
Lady with an Ermine, 1489-1490
This again is portrait painting and is considered by several critics to be one of Leonardo da Vinci’s best paintings. It was done on a walnut wood panel using oils and has Cecilia Gallerani as its subject, who was also the mistress of one of Leo’s patrons, Ludovico Sforza. Leonardo had painted more than three paintings of her, but this is the only one that survived this long.Lady with an Ermine, 1489−1490
The Virgin of the Rock, 1483-1486
Also known as Madonna of the Rocks sometimes, this one of Leo da Vinci’s paintings has two paintings of a similar subject. Both the paintings have a similar composition; however, there are certain subtle differences when it comes to the significant details. The more prime version out of Leonardo da Vinci’s all paintings is unrestored and hangs at Louvre in Paris. However, the second one was restored between 2008 and 2010 and hung at the national gallery in London. Both paintings show an infant Jesus and Mary with the infant John the Baptist. There are many minor ways the works also differ when it comes to color.The Virgin of the Rock, 1483−1486
The Madonna of the Carnation, 1480
This Leonardo famous painting is known all around the world by several different names, including Madonna with Vase, Madonna with child, and even Virgin with Flower. This Da Vinci artwork is an oil painting that is a permanent display at Alte Pinakothek gallery. Originally this painting was said to be created by Andrea del Verrocchio, but later evidence showed that it is actually Leonardo’s work, made in the apprenticeship of Verrocchio. This motif shows baby Jesus on the lap of the Virgin Mary. She holds Jesus in her left hand, with all her jewelry and a carnation on the left. The child looks up to the mother while the mother looks down, but there is no eye contact.The Madonna of the Carnation, 1480
Salvator Mundi, 1500
One of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous artworks, this painting holds the record for the most expensive painting ever to be sold at a public auction. Here Jesus is making the cross sign on his right hand while holding a transparent orb on the left. He is also wearing a blue renaissance dress. The orb in this Leonardo da Vinci art emulates his role as Salvador Mundi, representing the celestial sphere of the heavens. There are approximately thirty copies and variants of this Leonardo da Vinci’s painting by other followers and students of Vinci.Salvator Mundi, 1500