One of the World’s Greatest

When you think of Leonardo da Vinci, you likely think of Mona Lisa’s tight smile or maybe even the Last Supper. While those are cherished pieces, da Vinci had so much more under his belt, and we’re here to talk about his greatest hits and those less famous. 

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1. Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa is the most of many things—she’s one of the most widely recognized paintings, one of the most valuable, and certainly the most visited. Everything from the landscape to her hand placement has been discussed in detail, and this popular painting is often considered his most famous. 

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2. The Last Supper

Depicting the last supper of Christ and his apostles, this painting is da Vinci’s second largest by size. It’s widely been hailed as one of his most recognizable works, with particular praise given to its portrayal of space, perspective, and human emotion.

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3. Vitruvian Man

Whether in textbooks or pop culture, you’ve undoubtedly seen this sketch somewhere. Da Vinci was inspired by the writings of Vitruvius himself, a Roman architect, and depicted his own version of ideal body proportions. Given its sensitivity to light, it’s not on display among his paintings, but it has resurfaced from time to time. 

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4. Self Portrait (Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk)

What’s an artist who doesn’t sketch himself? Scholars initially thought da Vinci created this later in life, but today’s historians remain torn on who the subject actually is. Regardless of belief, the portrait itself remains highly influential and remains in the Royal Library of Turin. 

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5. Lady with an Ermine

For a while there, scholars were pretty torn on whether da Vinci even painted this. It actually wasn’t until the 20th century that most scholars finally gave him the credit, often citing the use of chiaroscuro (contrasts between light and dark in a composition) as the reason. It’s one of the only four surviving da Vinci paintings to feature a woman. 

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6. Virgin of the Rocks

Be it Paris or London, art enthusiasts can feast their eyes on either copy of this painting. Da Vinci painted both but his first version remains in its original state in the Louvre. The second is restored, proudly displayed in the National Gallery, and features several differences in color and detail—like giving Mary and Jesus a halo. 

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7. Salvator Mundi

Translated from Latin to mean “savior of the world,” this popular painting’s attribution remains up for debate. Though some insist da Vinci himself painted it, others believe he only contributed certain components. Despite the dispute, several dozen copies remain today, created by da Vinci’s followers or students.

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8. Ginevra de’ Benci

Several things stand out about the forlorn Ginevra—believed to be commissioned as a wedding present, the painting only features her in a three-quarter stance rather than the time’s traditional profile pose. While that’s unique enough, her portrait is also the only da Vinci painting on display in North America. 

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9. The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

This painting got put through the wringer. First, it was featured in Freud’s 1910 essay, who made theories based on what was later discovered to be a mistranslation in da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus. Then the poor painting underwent extensive 2011 cleaning that wound up destroying the original colors. Despite all this, it remains a beloved unfinished work of art. 

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10. Saint John the Baptist

You’d have to get up close to spot all the detail in this relatively dark painting. Face-to-face, however, you’ll spot the curly hair, fur wrap, and similarities to the Mona Lisa. Da Vinci used his student Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno (or Salaì) as the model. 

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Though you’ve likely heard of these already, plenty of his other works continue to fly under the radar. Let’s dive into some lesser-known works!

1. Annunciation

This one may have come under fire for its technical inaccuracies, but that didn’t stop the 2007 uproar to keep it in Florence. It’s one of his earliest surviving pieces and when the ‘07 Minister of Culture wanted to loan it out to Japan, people flew into a rage—especially since it’s only ever been relocated three times.

Public Domain on Wikimedia Commons

2. Portrait of a Musician

Much of this work remains a mystery. Despite all the detail da Vinci poured into his face, there’s still no concrete evidence as to who it belongs to. Today’s scholars credit the painting as one of da Vinci’s originals, though there was some debate early on about whether it was truly his. 

Public Domain on Wikimedia Commons

3. Madonna of the Yarnwinder

Currently displayed in the Scottish National Gallery, this one was loaned out from the Duke of Buccleuch’s personal collection. It was originally displayed in his home in Drumlanrig Castle until it was stolen in 2003. After its recovery, it found a new home in the gallery. 

Tangopaso on Wikimedia Commons

4. Sala delle Asse

Less a single painting and more a mural, sala delle asse translates into “room of wooden boards.” Da Vinci was tasked with painting a sizeable room in Castello Sforzesco, which led to his collection of branches and fruit. History tried to claim the masterpiece but several restorations attempted to keep it intact. 

Øyvind Holmstad on Wikimedia Commons

5. The Adoration of the Magi

This da Vinci piece is not only a part of his history, but Florence’s as well. The unfinished painting has hung in the Uffizi Gallery since 1670, restored only once between 2012 and 2017 to remove layers of gunk that accumulated over the years. 

Yair Haklai on Wikimedia Commons

6. Saint Jerome in the Wilderness

It may be an unfinished painting, but its subject matter withstood the test of time. Theorized to represent da Vinci’s own penance at the time, it features Saint Jerome knelt before a cross. The work’s been loaned out a couple of times but belongs to the Vatican Museums. 

Hay Kranen on Wikimedia Commons

7. The Baptism of Christ

Another member of the Uffizi Gallery, The Baptism of Christ depicts John the Baptist baptizing Christ alongside several angels. Da Vinci was a student at the time and the work is commonly attributed to both him and his teacher, Andrea del Verrocchio.

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8. Leda and the Swan

Unfortunately, these never made it into a painting but several remaining sketches depict his version of Leda and the Swan. The sketches lie scattered in England and Amsterdam, featuring a mix of chalk, pen, and ink. 

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9. Portrait of Isabella d'Este

She may be a painting, but Isabella is better recognized as da Vinci’s drawing. Scholars combed through his letters to unearth the so-called finished portrait but with only vague descriptions of its whereabouts, that painting remains up for debate. 

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10. The Battle of Anghiari 

This epic battle scene is a far cry from the religious imagery we’re used to—now if only we hadn’t lost it. Also known as “The Lost Leonardo,” he opted for more experimental techniques with this particular painting, ones that ultimately led to its demise. Despite its destruction, many scholars have tried to “recover it,” and some believe it’s squirreled away in Florence. 

Public Domain on Wikimedia Commons