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BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?

21 Nov 11 - 06:26 AM (#3260773)
Subject: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: MGM·Lion

Annotations of the two versions of Leonardo's The Virgin Of The Rocks, Louvre & National Gallery London, prominent in the current National Gallery Exhibition, "Leonardo da Vinci, the Milan years", refer to an inscription "Ecce Agnus Dei" appearing on the 'scroll' of John the Baptist, the infant on the left of the painting, in the later {London} version.

I have studied several reproductions of the painting, and cannot locate this scroll, or its inscription.

Can anyone find it and direct my eye as to where to look, please?

~Michael~


21 Nov 11 - 06:53 AM (#3260777)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: Sandra in Sydney

Google image search for Leonardo Virgin of the Rocks

Restored Leonardo Masterpiece on Display at the National Gallery in London (last par) The restoration process has provided the opportunity for a comprehensive study of 'The Virgin of the Rocks' by the National Gallery's Scientific, Conservation and Curatorial departments, with the findings being published online in the National Gallery's Technical Bulletin in September 2011. The Gallery will expand its initial research on Leonardo himself to include the systematic investigation of Leonardo's Milanese pupils, collaborators and followers.

National Gallery Technical Bulletin 32 -a special issue devoted to the work of Leonardo da Vinci see article Leonardo da Vinci's 'Virgin of the Rocks': Treatment, Technique and Display by Larry Keith, Ashok Roy, Rachel Morrison and Peter Schade - download .pdf of the article & view high resolution images

sandra


21 Nov 11 - 07:10 AM (#3260781)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: MGM·Lion

Many thanks, Sandra. Lots of images, but I still didn't manage to find that precise detail. The second link was "Not Found", however. Will try the hi-def images refd to in third.


21 Nov 11 - 07:17 AM (#3260785)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: MGM·Lion

Even there, alas, despite the high resolution and extensive text, I just could not locate the scroll or its inscription in any of the images, or any ref to it in the text.

It must surely be there somewhere ~~ it is constantly ref'd to in commentaries &c. So why, I wonder, is it so hard to find?

Again, many thanks to Sandra for all her trouble.

~M~


21 Nov 11 - 07:33 AM (#3260790)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: bobad

MtheGM, you can zoom in on the high res image and if you do so you will see the scroll in the hands of StJtheB, all that is visible of the inscription is ECCE A.


21 Nov 11 - 07:48 AM (#3260794)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: Charley Noble

Be careful not to zoom in too closely on" the virgin;" that's how Nelson was said to have lost his eye.

Cheerily,
Charley Ignoble


21 Nov 11 - 08:12 AM (#3260808)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: frogprince

It's a very oddly handled detail. I would have been more apt to identify it as lettering worked into his mother's clothing, above and behind his hand, with more lettering below his hand.


21 Nov 11 - 08:38 AM (#3260825)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: Sandra in Sydney

I can't make a blicky to the second link as the URL is too long, but here it is again

http://www.artknowledgenews.com/2010-07-16-22-44-32-restored-leonardo-masterpiece-on-display-at-the-national-gallery-in-london.html

and here's another story on the exhibition from the same site

http://www.artknowledgenews.com/10_11_2011_01_02_05_the_national_gallery_in_london_shows_a_major_exhibition_of_leonardo_da_vinci.html

[the 'tml' was omitted from html in the original link- I fixed it]]


21 Nov 11 - 11:03 AM (#3260933)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: MGM·Lion

Many thanks to all for help ~~ yes, can just about make out scroll; but, as Bobad says, inscription as quoted does not seem to be complete.

Very grateful to him and Sandra in particular for helpful responses.

~Michael~


21 Nov 11 - 11:10 AM (#3260935)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: JohnInKansas

http://www.artknowledgenews.com/2010-07-16-22-44-32-restored-leonardo-masterpiece-on-display-at-the-national-gallery-in-london.html


http://www.artknowledgenews.com/10_11_2011_01_02_05_the_national_gallery_in_london_shows_a_major_exhibition_of_leonardo_da_vinci.html

John


21 Nov 11 - 03:26 PM (#3261082)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: frogprince

It looks like part of the inscription is on a trailing end of the "scroll" (I would just have said ribbon) hanging down from his hand.


21 Nov 11 - 03:41 PM (#3261091)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: GUEST,999

I zoomed in closely and it reads Made in China.


21 Nov 11 - 05:09 PM (#3261133)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: EBarnacle

There is a short story, I believe by Bradbury, about the play of light in the background of the painting.


21 Nov 11 - 11:38 PM (#3261286)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: GUEST,999

EB, do you maybe mean 'The Smile'?


22 Nov 11 - 04:43 AM (#3261362)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: Sandra in Sydney

I vaguely remember that story


22 Nov 11 - 04:59 AM (#3261366)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: MGM·Lion

But I think that story is predicated on the background to one of Leonardo's other famous paintings, Mona Lisa ~ aka La Gioconda = The Smiling Woman ~ rather than that of Virgin Of The Rocks?

~M~


22 Nov 11 - 09:16 AM (#3261456)
Subject: RE: BS: 'Inscription' on Leonardo's 'Virgin'?
From: EBarnacle

The Smile is based on La Gioconda. The story was actually written by Arthur C. Clarke. I still have not chased down the title.