Author Description

Leonardo's The Virgin of the Rocks is one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery. With a composition that was developed and revisited by the artist throughout his life, the work encapsulates many of Leonardo's diverse interests: in the science of perception, in geology, in anatomy and in new painting techniques that create a more lifelike depiction of the human form. In this publication Leah Kharibian tells the fascinating story behind this mysterious work, initially commissioned as an altarpiece when Leonardo was a young artist working in Milan. From charting Leonardo's innovative painting techniques to exploring the work's changing designs, this book illuminates the rich history of this Renaissance masterpiece.