A grand showcase that examines Leonardo’s passion and pursuit for painterly perfection

‘Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan’ is one of the most complete and comprehensive displays of the legendary artist’s rare surviving paintings ever held anywhere in the world.

This magnificent showcase of ‘Leonardo da Vinci's works is on view at The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London. The unprecedented exhibit, indeed the first of its kind not only in the UK but probably anywhere in the world, brings together some exquisite international loans.

Illustrating the significance of the show, an accompanying note mentions: “While numerous exhibit have looked at Leonardo as an inventor, scientist or even draughtsman, this is perhaps the first ever to be dedicated to his techniques and aims as a painter. Inspired by ‘The Virgin of the Rocks’, the recently restored National Gallery painting, it focuses on him as an artist. In particular, the show concentrates on the work that he produced as court painter to Duke Lodovico Sforza in Milan during the late 1480s and 1490s."

As a painter, he aimed to convince his viewers of the reality of what they were viewing whilst aspiring to create ideals of beauty, particularly in his portraits, and in his religious works, to convey across a sense of awe-inspiring mystery. Featuring some of the finest drawings and paintings by Leonardo and his followers, the event examines his pursuit for perfection in his meticulous representation of the human form.

Among the works on display are the ‘Madonna Litta’ (Hermitage, Saint Petersburg), ‘Saint Jerome’ (Pinacoteca Vaticana, Rome) and ‘La Belle Ferronière’ (Musée du Louvre, Paris). The two versions of his ‘Virgin of the Rocks’ that belong to the National Gallery & the Louvre are also being shown together for the first time ever. The final part of the show features a near-contemporary, full-scale copy of his famous work ‘Last Supper’, on loan from the Royal Academy.

Seen alongside all of the surviving preparatory drawings by Leonardo for the work, visitors can discover how such a large-scale, ambitious painting was designed and made by him.