Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
play—oblivious to the violent deaths they'll both suffer—beneath their mothers' Mona
Lisa smiles.
But follow the eyes: Shadowy-eyed Anne turns toward Mary, who looks tenderly
down to Jesus, who blesses John, who gazes back dreamily. As your eyes follow theirs,
you're led back to the literal and psychological center of the composition—Jesus—the
Alpha and Omega. Without resorting to heavy-handed medieval symbolism, Leonardo
drives home a theological concept in a natural, human way. Leonardo the perfectionist
rarely finished paintings. This sketch—pieced together from two separate papers (see the
line down the middle)—gives us an inside peek at his genius.
• From Room 51, cross to the main building (the West Wing) and enter the large Room 9,
filled with big, colorful canvases.
(See “National Gallery” map,
here
.)
