Leonardo's Portraits

Much of this ppt was borrowed and condensed from 13arthistoryghm.pbworks.com/f/Leonardo+Portraits.ppt

Leonardo's Key Innovations

•No more profile– ¾ view of face• Inclusion of hands • Revealed the sitter’s

personality •Used Symbols in a

more subtle, complex way than previous Renaissance portrait artist

Patronage

Leonardo was commissioned by several wealthy people to paint their portraits. They were called his “Patrons”

Only wealthy people could afford to be painted.

Camera’s were not invented therefore art was the only way to record history

Ludovico Il Moro, Duke of Milan commissioned Leonardo to paint 2 portraits for him: one for his wife and one for his girlfriend!!!

Which one was the Duke’s wife? Which one was the Duke’s mistress?

La Belle Ferroniere (left)

The Lady with the Ermine (right)

La Belle Ferroniere 1490-96

The WIFE! Who was correct? Why did you guess that?

Her pose and face tell us she is dignified.

Notice her decorative dress? She was considered a fashionista of her era

Leonardo used “photoshop”

Although there were NO computers in the Renaissance , Leonardo IDEALISED portraits.

This means he made people more beautiful in there paintings than they were in real life.

She made her head more oval and used golden proportions in her face

Portrait by another artist

The Lady with the Ermine

• 1. Conveys a sense of mystery and the uniqueness of the human personality. A gentle smile plays on the corners of her mouth, sparkle in her eyes. (Like the Mona Lisa!)

• 2. Pose is innovative [again!].

• 3. Use of Sfumato – veils of soft glazes, gradual blending of tones that create a “smoky” effect

Who was she?

• Member of the noble Gallerani family.• Became the Mistress of Duke of Milan at age 15. • About 16-17 at time portrait painted• Duke then married Beatrice Este, but kept visiting

Cecilia. He kept her in a castle, She kept this portrait.• She later married in 1491.

What do her physical characteristics suggest about her?

• Her figure is slender,– the action of turning suggest her agility and physical energy

• fingers long and delicate – gracefulness

• The light in her eyes – an active and alert mind

• Glow in her cheeks – warmth, beauty of spirit

• Her neatly groomed hairstyle – fashionable, yet simple. Modest.

The meaning of the Ermine

. She is the mistress of Il Moro - the ermine was his symbol, featured on hisCoat of Arms. 2. As his mistress, she is like his pet.3. In Greek, ermine is “galen” – a pun on her surname Gallerani1. The ermine symbolises her virtue. In Medieval bestiaries the animal was described as the ‘essence of

purity and moderation’. “it would rather die than soil itself and is so moderate it only eats once a day”. These qualities are attached to Cecilia.

2. The ermine is her mirror. It moves lithely and has bright eyes, alert neck - echoed in Cecilia’s movement and alert glance.

6. The ermine was a talisman for childbirth. Some say she may have been in the early stages of pregnancy while this was painted