Leonardo Da Vinci: Brush with genius

Sonia Soltani visits the National Gallery’s Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan for a closer look at the Renaissance master

The young beauty turns as if to listen, her expression so true to life it’s unsettling. The palette is exquisite; the stroke flawless. Painted in 1490, this is Leonardo’s The Lady with an Ermine. The lady is Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of his patron and Milan’s then ruler, Ludovico Sforza. It’s tempting to think she would have looked less enigmatic had she known she was posing for the first modern portrait.

This is one of the masterpieces of the National Gallery’s fascinating Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan exhibition, which traces the Florentinian’s output while in Sforza’s city (1482-1499).

In response to his benefactor’s desire to be seen as the perfect head of state, Da Vinci painted a world as close to the divine as possible. This is evident in works such as The Virgin of the Rocks and The Last Supper, which are highlights.

The historical and artistic origins of these canvases are fleshed out in a booklet and film, but most mesmerising of all are the 50 drawings relating to the paintings (shown here for the first time). They offer an insight into the creative process of a genius par excellence. Book ahead to guarantee seeing this popular exhibition. Closes on 5 February.

If you missed the exhibtion, see here for specia screening: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/leonardo-live-international