The complete pictorial works of Leonardo Da Vinci come together

World
Europe

03:21

Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the greatest painters of all times. 500 years after his death, various commemorative events are taking place around the world. Here in Beijing, the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum is working with the Italian embassy to present an exhibition called "The Art of Leonardo: Opera Omnia."

The Last Supper, Mona Lisa, and many of other Da Vinci's artworks receive a huge number of visitors in different museums every day. But, have you ever imagined seeing all of them at one time? Here at the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, digital acquisition and reproduction technology have made it possible.

Over Da Vinci's 50-year professional career, there were few paintings that left his studio and reached the public. Some were lost, some remained unfinished, and others were ruined during their creation due to technical defects.

"Mona Lisa" by Leonardo Da Vinci./ Photo courtesy of the CAFA Art Museum

Only 17 oil paintings from Da Vinci are left to this day. They are currently scattered in 11 museums in different countries. As a result, this Opera Omnia exhibition of reproductions is quite precious to his fans.

"It's impossible for any of us to see all of them at the same time, and even the paintings themselves have never appeared under the same roof, as they were created by the artist in different places,” said Franco Amadei, cultural counselor of the Italian Embassy in China.

“So for scholars who might have already studied the originals, this exhibition provides them an irreplaceable chance to make comparisons and study the development of Da Vinci's works. It's also a rare opportunity for other art fans who might not be able to visit all the 11 museums to worship these art pieces."

"The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci. /Photo courtesy of the CAFA Art Museum

This year marks the 500th anniversary of Leonardo Da Vinci's death. Different events like this are taking place elsewhere around the world.

Besides his artistic abilities, his scientific and technical genius are also being celebrated by displaying his architectural and geometric drawings of machinery and mankind.

"Adoration of the Magi" by Leonardo Da Vinci. /Photo courtesy of the CAFA Art Museum

All these have made Da Vinci a polymath of the Renaissance, remembered from generation to generation.

Shao Yiyang, head of Western Art Studies at the Art History Department of the CAFA said, "Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the most important artists from the Renaissance not only because of his perspective techniques or painting skills. It's that the way he sees the world is so different from other artists and other people of his time. He combines art, nature and science together."

The exhibition of "The Art of Leonardo: Opera Omnia" runs through May 23 at the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing.