Leonardo: The Virgin of the Rocks (One Painting, One Story)

Leonardo’s The Virgin of the Rocks is one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery.

With a composition that was developed and revisited by the artist throughout his life, the work encapsulates many of Leonardo’s diverse interests: in the science of perception, in geology, in anatomy and in new painting techniques that create a more lifelike depiction of the human form.

In this publication Leah Kharibian tells the fascinating story behind this mysterious work, initially commissioned as an altarpiece when Leonardo was a young artist working in Milan. From charting Leonardo’s innovative painting techniques to exploring the work’s changing designs, this book illuminates the rich history of this Renaissance masterpiece. 

Published by National Gallery Global/Distributed by Yale University Press