[Atlanta, GA] This well crafted exhibit is an exploration of the life and body of work of Leonardo Da Vinci; including his impact on Renaissance art - and those who would follow in his footsteps.

Exhibition Highlight

The recent cleaning of Andrea del Verrocchio’s The Beheading of St. John the Baptist (1477–1483) relief for the silver altar of the Florentine Baptistery has enabled a detailed examination of its individual components.

The Beheading of St. John the Baptist; by Andrea del Verrocchio (Italian, 1435–1488) and Leonardo da Vinci? (Italian, 1452–1519) [Photo Credit: Antonio Quattrone]Gary Radke, guest curator of the exhibition and Dean’s Professor of the Humanities at Syracuse University, recently proposed that two of the figures—the youth with a salver (far left) and turbaned officer (second from right)—were created by Leonardo da Vinci and not Verrocchio. The figures in the relief, each no more than eight inches high, were created separately and attached to the silver background, making it possible for more than one artist to contribute to the composition.

On view for the first time outside of Florence, the silver relief will be a focal point of Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius, providing visitors with the opportunity to make their own comparisons and learn more about Radke’s rationale for the attribution.

Proposing a new attribution to Leonardo is not something I take lightly,” said Radke, “but when I saw the relief after it was recently cleaned and had the privilege of looking at the figures from both front and back, two of them jumped out at me.

About Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) is widely recognized as a painter, scientist, inventor, philosopher, writer, designer and architect.

His artistic apprenticeship took place in Florence in the workshop of painter and sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio. In 1482 he left Florence for the court of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, where he was to spend much of his career. During his early Milanese period he painted his iconic Last Supper.

He fled Milan after the French invasion of the city in 1499 and returned to Florence, where he painted the Mona Lisa and continued his technological, geographical and scientific studies. Leonardo returned to Milan in 1506 and after spending some time at the Papal Court in Rome, accepted an invitation from Francis I, King of France, to work at his court, where he remained until his death.

The Details

Date:  Thu., Nov. 12, 5-9 p.m. and Thu., Jan. 21, 5-9 p.m.
Location: High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta (Midtown)
Admission Cost: $10-$25.
Telephone: 404-733-4444
Website: www.high.org

Bonus: To celebrate the much anticipated exhibit Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of Genius, admission includes the option to taste a flight of wine or the enjoyment of one full glass.

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by Donna Petrongolo