It is known that he and Ginevra de Benci were good friends. Da Vinci enhanced her beauty, painting her flawless, smooth skin. Download a digital image of this work, Leonardo da Vinci, Ginevra de' Benci [obverse], c. 1474/1478, oil on panel, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1967.6.1.a. It is likely that this portrait, possibly da Vinci's first, was made to commemorate Givenra de Benci's marriage to Luigi Niccolini that year. Ginevra was around seventeen years old, well-educated and from a wealthy Florence family. His parents never married—his mother, Caterina, was spurned by his father, Ser Piero da Vinci, as she was from a lower social class. In this sense, Ginevra de Benci can be considered an anti-portrait, commenting upon the falsehood of a portraiture that records surfaces while ignoring or actively concealing the complex psychological reality within. With adverse winds and heavy storms The painting’s reverse side, Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse], is an image of Ginevra’s emblem or impresa and offers another kind of “portrait.” The central juniper, ginepro in Italian, a cognate of Ginevra’s name and thus her symbol, also represents chastity. He painted this specific painting in his early 20s in Florence (Brown, 1998). It is instead, on the level that the artist primarily intended, a representation of the poetic aspect of Leonardo himself in the process of creation. It is the only Leonardo on view in the United States. This piece shows secularism because this is a portrait of a woman. Who is Leonardo da Vinci? A video description of the oil painting of Ginevra de' Benci, completed by Leonardo da Vinci sometime between 1474 and 1478. Virtue and Beauty: Leonardo’s Ginevra de’ Benci and Renaissance Portraits of Women, Slideshow Description This poster is a reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci (c. 1474/1478). All Rights Reserved. By 1472, he was an accredited painter and member of Compagnia di San Luca, or St. Luke’s Guild, a professional society to which artists belonged. 2].3 Here was a rare opportunity to study the evolution of Leonardo's extraordi-nary painting skills. 4th St and Constitution Ave NW Ginevra was around seventeen years old, well-educated and from a wealthy Florence family. It is recommended to use the other file. If the painter wishes to see beauties that charm him it lies in his power to create them, and if he wishes to see monstrosities that are frightful, buffoonish, or ridiculous, or pitiable he can be lord and god thereof; if he wants to produce inhabited regions or deserts or dark and shady retreats from the heat, or warm places in cold weather, he can do so. One of Leonardo’s contemporaries wrote that he “painted Ginevra d’Amerigo Benci with such perfection that it seemed to be not a portrait but Ginevra herself.”  Its lifelike and forthright portrayal broke with conventions of earlier Renaissance portraiture of women, including a preference for the more detached profile view. Ginevra's face is framed by the spiky, evergreen leaves of a juniper bush, the once–brighter green turned brown with age. c.1480. Palm and laurel also appear in Bembo’s emblem, and infrared examination of the painting’s layers has also revealed Bembo’s motto, Virtus et honor (virtue and honor), painted beneath Ginevra’s scrolling motto which encircles all three elements and means “Beauty adorns virtue.”, May Ginevra shed tears as you go, Bembo. There, he painted his Mona Lisaand Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (both in the Musée du Louvre). Ginevra de' Benci was the daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker, and her portrait—the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas—was probably commissioned about the time of her marriage at age 16. It hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Our artists start with a blank canvas and paint each and every brushstroke by hand to re-create all the beauty and details found in … Leonardo was raised by his father’s well-to-do family of landowners and notaries and lived in his grandfather’s home. In the exhibit, Ginevra was joined by other female portraits, largely Quattrocento Florentine, to display as a group the qualities that Renaissance men most valued and praised in women: their "virtue and beauty" (which was the title of the exhibition). 100% Original, Plagiarism Free, Customized to Your instructions! The Sculpture Garden is now open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Ginevra spent her later life in self imposed exile, trying to recover from illness and an ill fated love affair. Ginevra de Benci was said to have been beautiful. Ginevra de' Benci. Information about this record. Leonardo da Vinci, Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse], c. 1474/1478, tempera on panel, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1967.6.1.b, Ginevra is known to have had several admirers who composed poetry in her honor and entreated her to share own verse with them. . The painting was made by Leonardo in 1479-1480. One of the most famous artists was Leonardo DaVinci, who was an Italian artist. The oil-on-wood portrait was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1967. The oil-on-wood portrait was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1967. Every difficulty may hinder your journey. Leonardo was sought after and worked for a number of patrons around Italy including Ludovico Sforza, ruler of Milan; the French governor of Milan, Charles II d’Amboise; as architect and engineer for the Borgias in Urbino; and for Giuliano de'Medici in Rome. 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, East Building She was considered to be one of the most intellectual people of her time and was a poet. c.1480 infra-red reflectogram of the motto on the reverse. Call Number: 372/ L581/ 6Ben11 ... Ginevra de' Benci. Another likelihood reflects a cultural phenomenon of the Italian Renaissance period—platonic love affairs between well-mannered gentlemen and ladies. He presented the emaciated body of his St. Jerome (unfinished; c. 1482) in a sobering light, imbuing… Ginevra de' Benci is a portrait painting by Leonardo da Vinci of the 15th-century Florentine aristocrat Ginevra de' Benci (born c. 1458). She was also known as a poet and learned conversationalist. Young women of the time were expected to comport themselves with dignity and modesty. Ginevra de’ Benci (born in 1457 or 1458) was the daughter of a wealthy Florentine banker. The West and East Buildings remain closed at this time. It measures 38.8 cm. It has been proposed that Ginevra's portrait was painted to celebrate her marriage to Luigi di Bernardo Niccolini in 1474, This painting shows realism as well because the colors and detail on her hair and the reflection on the … Why was this young woman’s likeness painted? Our artists start with a blank canvas and paint each and every brushstroke by hand to re-create all the beauty and details found in the original … Ginevra de Benci was said to have been beautiful. Leonardo's painting of Ginevra de' Benci was painted shortly after her wedding to Luigi di Bernardo Niccolini in 1474. She is the subject of one of only about 17 existing paintings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The planes of her face subtly modeled, she may have “come to life” before viewers in a fashion more vivid than any other painting they had seen before. Ginevra De' Benci . The juniper bush that fills much of the background was regarded as a symbol of female virtue, in Renaissance Italy, while the Italian word for juniper, echo’s Ginevra’s name. It may have been he who commissioned her portrait to celebrate—and substitute for—the object of his admiration and esteem. Family Resources More Works by Leonardo da Vinci Equally skilled as a sculptor, architect, urban planner, inventor, anatomist, military strategist, and visionary who anticipated the invention of aircraft, submarines, and other technologies centuries before their invention, he was among the most influential figures of the Renaissance in Europe. in the National Gallery of Art Collection, Leonardo da Vinci, Sheet of Studies [recto], probably 1470/1480, pen and brown ink over leadpoint with blind stylus on laid paper, The Armand Hammer Collection, 1991.217.2.a, Leonardo da Vinci, Study of a Madonna [verso], probably 1470/1480, black chalk on laid paper, The Armand Hammer Collection, 1991.217.2.b.  She also has a scuff running across her shoulders. She eyes the viewer directly. Vasari describes Leonardo's portrait as dating from about 1500-1506, but the sitter would have been in her forties and this seems … The planes of her face subtly modeled, she may have “come to life” before viewers in a fashion more vivid than any other painting they had seen before. We utilize only the finest oil paints and high quality artist-grade canvas to ensure the most vivid color. For the first time he met Ginevra on January 28, 1475, at the giostra (kind of carrousel) of Giuliamo de Medici in Florence. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. It is likely that this portrait, possibly da Vinci's first, was made to commemorate Givenra de Benci's marriage to Luigi Niccolini that year. Accession Number: n2002090429. The accompanying … In the distance, there are more trees and an expanse of water. Closed. © 2021 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy, Leonardo da Vinci, Ginevra de' Benci, c. 1474/1478, Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse], Portrait Painting in Florence in the Later 1400s. n2002090429.  The dress has gold edges and blue ribbon lacings. One of the many paintings that he did was the Ginevra de’ Benci. Even more significant to Ginevra was Bernardo Bembo, the Venetian ambassador to Florence. high and 36.7 cm. If the poet says that he can inflame men with love..the painter has the power to do the same…in that he can place in front of the lover the true likeness of one who is beloved, often making him kiss and speak to it. A lady of the aristocratic class in 15th century Florence, Ginevra de' Benci was admired for her intelligence by Florentine contemporaries. Like most portrait subjects of the Renaissance, she was from a wealthy family, and educated. Learn more. Ginevra de Benci is also wearing a black scarf which was fashionable a the time. Although few paintings by Leonardo exist in the world today, among them are the best-known and most highly revered paintings in the Western tradition: the Mona Lisa (Musée du Louvre, Paris) and The Last Supper (Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan). Among them was Lorenzo de’Medici, whose elite family was known for its art patronage. Such affairs, often conducted from afar, focused on effusive literary expressions that displayed the courtier’s and lady’s sophistication. She is painted in front of a Juniper tree which is a slight pun, as "ginepro" the Italian word for juniper, suggests her name. The palm (right) stands for moral virtue, while the laurel (left) indicated artistic or literary inclinations. Ginevra de’ Benci is one of the first known three-quarter-view portraits in Italian art. Da Vinci creates a misty effect in the background using overlaid oil glazes to create his hazy sky. Portrait Painting in Florence in the Later 1400s, Image Download Description of Artwork  The painting has a juniper bush that surrounds a woman’s head and fills much of the background. the Ginevra de' Benci was the centerpiece of a major exhibi tion at the National Gallery that provided another context for the picture. Da Vinci's contemporaries commented that this portrait was extremely lifelike. The reassuringly glossy catalogue is modestly priced . Ginevra de' Benci. And perhaps no one among Florentine artists could better appreciate psychological complexity than Leonardo da Vinci: an illegitimate child who became a favorite of dukes and kings; a lover of men … Although a portrait of Ginevra de' Benci by Leonardo is mentioned by three sixteenth-century writers, the attribution of the Washington painting to that artist has been the cause of much debate. The portrait is among … It is the only … Portraitists were expected to enhance—as needed—a woman’s attractiveness according to the period's standards of beauty. Other articles where Portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci is discussed: Leonardo da Vinci: Painting and drawing: In the portrait Ginevra de’ Benci (c. 1474/78), Leonardo opened new paths for portrait painting with his singular linking of nearness and distance and his brilliant rendering of light and texture. Ginevra de’ Benci is one of the first known three-quarter-view portraits in Italian art. An early work, completed when Leonardo was 21, the painting shows an incipient genius and was revolutionary in the history of painting. The essay explores the strengths, elements, and styles of the artwork. This essay gives a detailed analysis of this masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci. Ginevra de' Benci Ginevra de' Benci (1457-1521) was a member of the Benci family in Florence and is the subject of an early portrait by Leonardo da Vinci Possible portrait of Ginevra de' Benci by Leonardo da Vinci Ginevra was born into a family of wealthy Florentine merchants in 1457. Around 1482, Leonardo left Florence for Milan where he created The Last Supper and became the most celebrated painter of the day. 1],2 and the Lady with an Ermine, on loan from the Czartoryski Collection, Cracow, some fifteen years later [Fig. Leonardo was born in 1452 in the Italian village of Anchiano, near Vinci, his namesake. This Portrait of Woman, called of Ginevra de' Benci is a picture attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci, dated around 1474-76. Leonardo himself was only about six years older. Flawless chalk-white skin, porcelain-fine features, and a reserved, somewhat impenetrable expression reflect the refinement of the 16-year-old Ginevra de' Benci. Art detectives have also discovered evidence of the personal emblem of the Venetian Ambassador to Florence, Bernado Bembo, is underneath and they suspect that he may have commissioned the emblematic painting on the rear. Despite these high achievements in painting, Leonardo would likely still be known to us today for his extraordinarily versatile intellect and creative mind. Part of the painting has been lost at the lower edge, and it is believed that a silverpoint drawing of hands by Leonardo is a study for the missing part of the panel. It was in Florence during … Later in her life, Ginevra was exiled at her own request because of an unknown illness and tragic love affair. This wonderful portrait of Ginevra de Benci is one of Leonardo da Vinci's early masterpieces capturing the beautiful, young girl and her thoughts forever. Oil Painting Description.  She has a sheer white blouse fastened with a golden pin. Visual forms of art require a great eye and sense of relationship for one to understand and point out a work of mastery. The Italian for juniper is ginepro. “Ginevra de’ Benci” by Leonardo da Vinci “Ginevra de’ Benci” by Leonardo da Vinci depicts a well-known young Florentine aristocrat. Leonardo painted the portrait in Florence in 1474 to commemorate Ginevra’s marriage at the age of 16. At the time of giostra Ginevra was at the age of seventeen, witty, beautiful, rich and married to a cloth-trader Luigi. Although this painting is rather traditional, it includes details such as Ginevra's curling hair that only Leonardo could achieve. Product description Review. Prevent your departure. Da Vinci himself said that the best portraits showed a "state of mind". He used the ends of his paintbrush to create her ringlets. Leonardo da Vinci died in France on May 2, 1519. 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