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Gallery 3
Leonardo's Adoration of the Magi and His Departure for Milan, ca. 1481–83
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Read about the works in this gallery, or view images from the exhibition (see below). |
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Leonardo's work as an independent painter in Florence culminated in the Adoration of the Magi (Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence), an altarpiece commissioned by the monks of San Donato a Scopeto in July 1481, with the mediation of Leonardo's well-connected father, Ser Piero da Vinci. Fascinating new evidence attests to the critical role played by Ser Piero—friend of Leonardo's teacher, Andrea del Verrocchio—in securing commissions on behalf of his son through his contacts as a notary in Florence. Leonardo left the Adoration of the Magi unfinished upon his departure for Milan in 1481–83; it is virtually a brush drawing on panel. On view are almost half of Leonardo's extant studies related to the altarpiece. These quick sketches manifest an astounding variety of poses for the onlookers in the composition.
Another group of drawings in this gallery, done using the traditional fifteenth-century technique of metalpoint on prepared paper, reveals a use of unified parallel hatching, often with nearly straight lines, to produce a soft relieflike effect. Many of the drawings suggest that Leonardo began by sketching lightly and cautiously with the metal stylus, then gradually reinforced the strokes to define the final outlines and to build up a density of tone in the shadows (mistakes or unwanted lines in metalpoint cannot easily be erased). His materials essentially conform to those described in Cennino Cennini's Libro dell'arte (before 1437). The paper is coated with a mixture of finely pulverized bone, color (from mineral sources), lead white, and glue. Leonardo appears to have favored the use of silver points rather than styluses made with other alloyed metals. He often reworked his metalpoint drawings with pen and brown ink to clarify the final outlines and darken the shadows. He also frequently added white gouache highlights, according to Cennino's recipe of "a little lead white well worked up with gum arabic" dissolved in water.
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