Leonardo da Vinci and the art of engraving - Exhibition catalog

WRITTEN IN FRENCH

Few are those whose names have been remembered by History more than five hundred years after their death. Leonardo da Vinci is one of them. His bearded old man's face, like that of the Mona Lisa, is known to everyone. However, his work has only attracted huge crowds in recent times...

WRITTEN IN FRENCH

Few are those whose names have been remembered by History more than five hundred years after their death. Leonardo da Vinci is one of them. His bearded old man's face, like that of the Mona Lisa, is known to everyone. However, his work has only attracted huge crowds in recent times. Before the end of the 19th century, it would be more appropriate to speak of Leonardo's misfortune. The challenge of this work consists of explaining why Leonardo's paintings were, between 1519, the year of his death, and the end of the 17th century, little known and little considered as models to follow.

Before the 19th century, the Florentine's works were rarely translated into engraving. Curiously, Leonardo showed little interest in this technique which makes possible the reproduction of images and, beyond that, their dissemination on a large scale. Unlike Andrea Mantegna, or, later, Raphael, Leonardo did not entrust professional engravers with the task of translating some of his compositions. Unraveling the mystery of this astonishing observation is one of the objectives of this publication.

Exhibition at Royal Chateau of Amboise from 1 June to 22 September 2024

French
304 pages / 120 illustrations

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