Paintings in the 1490s
by LEONARDO da Vinci

Leonardo's main artistic undertakings in Milan were a project for a huge equestrian statue to Ludovico Sforza's father, and the wall-painting of the Last Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The fresco method of mural painting was not flexible or subtle enough for the slow-working Leonardo, so he adopted an experimental technique that quickly caused the picture to deteriorate disastrously. It has been many times restored, but although it is only a shadow of Leonardo's original creation it still retains some of the immense authority that has made it the most revered painting in the world.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Portrait of a Musician
1490
Oil on panel, 43 x 31 cm
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan

808*1159
True Color
143 Kb



La belle Ferronière
c. 1490
Oil on panel, 63 x 45 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

806*1171
True Color
131 Kb



Madonna Litta
c. 1490-91
Tempera on canvas, transferred from panel, 42 x 33 cm
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

975*1255
True Color
134 Kb



Madonna Litta (detail)
c. 1490-91
Tempera on canvas, transferred from panel
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

644*840
True Color
75 Kb



The Refectory with the Last Supper after restoration
1498
Photo
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

732*1016
True Color
112 Kb



The Last Supper
1498
Mixed technique, 460 x 880 cm
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

1295*1000
True Color
204 Kb



The Last Supper
1498
Mixed technique, 460 x 880 cm
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

1147*603
True Color
136 Kb



The Last Supper
1498
Mixed technique, 460 x 880 cm
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

1302*900
True Color
193 Kb



The Last Supper (detail)
1498
Mixed technique
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

564*802
True Color
95 Kb



Ceiling decoration
1496-98
Fresco and tempera
Sala delle Asse, Castello Sforzesco, Milan

851*604
True Color
80 Kb



Ceiling decoration
1496-98
Fresco and tempera
Sala delle Asse, Castello Sforzesco, Milan

804*1031
True Color
172 Kb




Summary of works by Leonardo
Paintings
early work | in the 1480s | in the 1490s | late work | copies
Studies to paintings
Battle of Anghiari | studies (1) | studies (2) | heads | various
Other studies
anatomy | nature | engineering | maps | architecture | sculpture