Da Vinci Masterpiece Goes on Tour
The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, a 500-year-old drawing, will now be displayed at the Louvre for an exhibition commemorating the 500th anniversary of da Vinci’s death.
Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, Credit: Luc Viatour Lucnix.be
There had concerns about the fragility of the piece and its suitability for transportation, with opposition from the non-profit group Italia Nostra bringing the matter to law. However, a court in Italy ruled that the loan to the Louvre could proceed.
The court emphasized the exceptional global relevance of the exhibition and Italy’s desire to maximize its heritage potential. The Vitruvian Man is a highly unusual drawing that depicts the human body in perfect proportion, based on the writings of Vitruvius. It is one of fewer than 20 existing da Vinci paintings and is usually kept in a climate-controlled room at the Accademia Gallery in Venice.
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At Soulton Hall, we find the Vitruvian Man particularly intriguing due to its significance as a drawing completed to express a concise intellectual idea, rather than, as in the case of other da Vinci drawings, a scientific observation or a preparatory drawing for a painting.
Leon Battista Alberti, Self-Portrait, c. 1435, NGA 43845
In this drawing, Leonardo da Vinci is exploring the ideas of Alberti and Vitruvius.
The writings of Vitruvius, a renowned Roman architect and engineer, would have resonated with the scholarly and intellectual pursuits of Sir Rowland Hill, a quintessential Renaissance man. Familiarity with Vitruvius’ principles likely influenced the construction of Soulton Hall, which is designed as a cube to communicate order and stability… among other things.
