Leonardo da Vinci and the lady with an ermine

"The lady with the ermine" (Italian Dama con l'ermellino) - the picture is believed to belong to the brush of Leonardo da Vinci. According to many researchers, this portrait of Cecilia Gallerani - mistress Lodovico Sforza nicknamed Il Moro, Duke of Milan, which finds confirmation in the complex symbolism of the picture.

Wood, oil. 54 x 40 cm. 1489 - 1490 years.

A reliable written history of this painting can be traced from the end of the XVIII century: in 1798 (supposedly) the canvas was brought from Italy to Krakow by the Polish prince Adam Czartoryski. His mother, Isabella, whom he presented with the canvas, placed the painting in a museum, which she founded in her Pulava estate in 1802.

Visit to the castle of Wawel, among other things, was due to the inspection of the painting by Leonardo Da Vinci "The Lady with Ermine". Without a special turn, you can get into the big dark hall. In it, behind the glass, is the picture. It is gently highlighted. Close to it is not suitable. The approach is limited by a red tape and is controlled already by two caretakers. The picture is not great. However, I was ready for this, because I had seen Leonardo's works before - they are not all of a large size. For example, in the Hermitage - Madonna Litta.

It is only 42 × 33 cm. In the Hermitage, it is exposed behind a glass in a large beautiful frame.

I walked along the red ribbon, looking at the face of the beautiful Donna. It is believed that the portrait depicts the mistress of Milan's Duke Cecilia Gallerani. Of course, just now you can not say and many art historians break their spears in trying to find out the truth. We will believe that the model is one of the beloved duke of Milan Lodovico Sforzapo nicknamed Il Moro, the mother of his bastard Cesare. The girl is intelligent and interesting, she was the mistress of the literary salon, which visited the most famous poets of that time.

But it's not about Cecilia. It's about Leonardo.

The thing is that when I was walking along the picture, looking into the face of Cecilia, I suddenly saw that she turned her shoulders! It was amazing! I could not believe my eyes ... I repeated the experiment - it happened too ... I think my brain was playing with me. Rather, it was Leonardo da Vinci who played with my brain five centuries later, dividing us.

Trying to figure out what happened, I remembered the effect that was taking place in the cinema or in front of the TV screen when I was sitting somewhere on the side. If you look at the screen from the side, then the picture for you is not rectangular. It's some kind of trapezoid. Well, you know - the laws of perspective. But the film we perceive is completely rectangular! Those. Discomfort from the fact that the screen looks at an angle we do not experience. Just our brain processes the signal and delivers the already processed, corrected sensation. And then the same story happens. On the canvas, the position of the head and shoulders is chosen, that the brain tries to correct it with respect to how it is customary for him. And there is a feeling that the model in the picture is moving shoulders. This is a very interesting effect and, I think, this is another point that speaks in favor of the fact that the author of the work is Leonardo. All these technical and physical notions are just in his style.

And about the work itself - this is a very beautiful portrait. Perhaps the most beautiful portrait of the work of Leonardo.

By the way, about the animal. Gornostai replaced in the old days of cats and was fairly widespread in everyday life. Gornostai symbolized purity. He is a hint of the name Galleriani, similar to the Greek galee (ermine). Another plus for the fact that this is the work of Leonardo - an amateur of such mysteries. And there is a version that the ermine is not at all an ermine and a ferret is an albino.

Even though there is no live place on it. The picture was copied several times. Her background became darker (perhaps in the beginning it was dark blue), and the door (window), which was on the right above (behind her left shoulder), was removed. The background was recorded during the repair of the painting between 1830-70, suggest that Eugene Delacroix could do it.

Be that as it may, it is a masterpiece of world significance. And I recommend everyone to come and have a look at it.

Moreover, a picture is exhibited in a beautiful castle, in an equally beautiful city, despite the smog and stove heating in Krakow.

A little about Wawel.

This is the inner courtyard of the castle. Climbing the galleries you will get to the museum of one painting - "Ladies with an ermine".

Wawel (Polish Wawel) - a hill and an architectural complex in Krakow, on the left bank of the Vistula. Height - 228 meters above sea level.

On the Wawel Hill there is a complex of architectural monuments, of which the most important are the Royal Castle and the Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Vaclav. Wawel is a symbol of Poland and a place of special significance for the Polish people. The architectural complex is under the management of the cultural institution "Royal Castle on Wawel - State Art Collection".

We were lucky and the sky above the castle was clear. Passing along the red powerful walls, admiring the domes of the Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Vaclav, it was very pleasant to take a walk in the green garden, broken in the castle.

From the hill you can see a beautiful view of Krakow and besides, you can meet Polish folk musicians.

In a word, everyone must go to Krakow!