LEONARDO da Vinci (b. 1452, Vinci, d. 1519, Cloux, near Amboise) |
Study for a kneeling Leda1503-07Black chalk, pen and ink on paper, 126 x 109 cm Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam | ||
Leda, the wife of the king of Sparta, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan. She gave birth to two eggs from which hatched Helen, Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux. This and a second compositional plan in Chatsworth show the kneeling Leda gently embracing the swan. With her right hand she is pointing to the children.
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