Leonardo da Vinci, artist, thinker and man of science; . e profileportrait, hang in disorder,almost unkempt. Theartist, we clearly see, haslong since left personalvanity behind him. In such a form asthis we can best conjureup this enigmatic figure,this mighty sceptic, whohas lost so many illlu-sions, and who goes hisway mocking at the igno-rance of other men. The interest of thisTurin portrait is considerably enhanced by the fact that it wasevidently executed in France. I have said that a comparison withthe Windsor portrait convinces us that an interval of at least twelveyears separates the tw
Leonardo da Vinci, artist, thinker and man of science; . e profileportrait, hang in disorder,almost unkempt. Theartist, we clearly see, haslong since left personalvanity behind him. In such a form asthis we can best conjureup this enigmatic figure,this mighty sceptic, whohas lost so many illlu-sions, and who goes hisway mocking at the igno-rance of other men. The interest of thisTurin portrait is considerably enhanced by the fact that it wasevidently executed in France. I have said that a comparison withthe Windsor portrait convinces us that an interval of at least twelveyears separates the two pictures. If, then, Leonardo was fifty, atthe youngest, when he executed the first, the second must have studies, it adds, arc very remarkable. According to a maniisciiiit note on a copyof this catalogue, these two drawings seem to liavc been pinchascd by Mr. do not know what has become of them. Arsène Houssaye tells us (p. 439) that theportrait formerly belonging to the King of the Netherlands was a black chalk copy of theTurin SUPPOSED PORTRAIT OK (Windsor Library.) 230 LEONARDO DA VIT^TT been produced when he was at least sixty-two, and possiblysixty-four. At that period of his life he was settled in France. I may there-fore assert, without any fear of contradiction, that the wonderful redchalk drawing in the Turin Library came into existence at old mans hand—his left hand, for the right was paralysed—hadlost nothing of its power. With an absolute sureness of touch andinexorable precision, it has traced the lineaments of the Faust ofItaly. There can be no possible doubt that the picture in the Uffizi,which bears every sign of being a fancy portrait, is derived Iromthis source. If I am not mistaken, Leonardos features are also recognisablein a drawing of an aged man, with a kind of helmet on his head, inthe Windsor Library. There is the same aquiline nose, the samewavv hair falling on the shoulders, the same sarcastic expres
Size: 1329px × 1879px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublishernewyorkcscribnerss
