The life of Leonardo da Vinci by John William Brown
Catalogue of Leonardo's Works
It is difficult to give a correct catalogue of the works of any artist who lived at so distant a period as Leonardo da Vinci, and also to point out the different places where they are to be found, with the names of their respective owners: the more so, as works of art, as well as states and kingdoms, have so frequently changed masters of late years, that it is almost impossible to trace them through so many revolutions.
The most considerable of Leonardo's undertakings were those painted on the walls of the Refectory in the Convent of the Madonna dells Grazia at Milan; but, unfortunately, little remains of them to establish his fame in the present day. His grand painting of "The Last Supper", and his portrait of the Duke Ludovico Il Moro, the Duchess Beatrice d'Este, and their Children, are nearly defaced; and in addition to the ravages of time, the figure of our Saviour, which he painted on the wall, is destroyed by the enlargement of a doorway.
At the Canonise de Vaprio, he painted his own portrait by the side of a window, in the house of his friends the Melzi; and in Vaprio, his colossal painting of the Virgin Mary is still to be seen in the palace belonging to the same family. In Rome he painted a figure of the Virgin on the wall of the cloisters in the Convent of St. Onofrio. But of all these little remains but the outlines, from the circumstance of their having been painted on walls, and as difficult to remove as to preserve.
His oil paintings are much more numerous, as he painted on wood, on canvas, and on paper. As Milan was the place where he resided longest, it may be supposed that he painted most of his pictures there; but the greater part of those which could be removed, have long since been transported into other countries.
In the Public Gallery of Milan, are the portraits of the Duchess Beatrice and the Duke Maximilian. Another copy of the latter is in the Melzi Gallery. There is also the portrait of an Old Man, and a half figure of St. John the Baptist, which is considered as Leonardo's work, in the Public Gallery; but by some authors they are supposed to be only painted on his outlines.
In the Archbishop's Palace, a Virgin and Child, unfinished.
In the Palazzo Belgioso, a "Holy Family" that was at Piacenza; and innumerable smaller pictures dispersed among the private collections in Milan, most of which have now found their way to England.
At Isola belle, in the possession of the Boromeo family, there is a half figure of a Young Man, in very good preservation.
At Bologna, In the Hall of the Gonfaloniere, the portrait of a Boy.
At Florence, in the Public Gallery - The Medusa's Head. A small picture in the Tribune representing Herodias receiving the head of St. John the Baptist; a small painting, representing the Epiphany, in the "Scuola Fiorentina." And his self portrait, in the Hall of the Painters.
In the Palazzo Pitti, a Magdalen; most beautiful. In the Palazzo Nicolini, the portrait of a Man. In the. Mozzi Gallery, the portrait of a Lady. In the possession of Signor Fineschi is the famous picture of the Angel, described by Vasari, from the collection in the Palazzo Vecchio.
In the Palazzo Borghese, a Holy Family. This is considered one of Leonardo's best pictures, and formerly belonged to Pope Clement the Seventh.
Palazzo Aldobrandini - Jesus Christ disputing with the Doctors of Law; and the celebrated painting of La Vanita et la Modestia. The latter picture is now in the possession of Lord Dudley.
In the Giustiniani Gallery, a Holy Family; since sold.
A very fine Portrait of a Lady was in the possession of the late Count D'Albany; and there was also a Saint John in the Wilderness in the collection of the Signora Angelica Kauffmann; but these picture are both removed
