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Leonardo da Vinci, 'The Burlington House Cartoon', about 1506-8

About the work

Overview

The Virgin Mary sits on her mother’s lap, her attention focused on the wriggling Christ Child. Her mother, Saint Anne, looks intently at her through deep-set eyes and points upwards to the heavens, indicating the child’s divinity. Christ’s cousin, Saint John the Baptist, leans against Anne’s lap as the baby Christ tickles his chin.

This large drawing was made in preparation for a painting, probably as a presentation drawing: a full-sized study of what the planned picture might look like, which could be shown to a patron, or group of patrons. It was, in a sense, intended as a work of art in its own right, unlike other cartoons that were typically used to physically transfer a design of the drawing to the support for painting. Often known as ‘The Burlington House Cartoon’, it is the only surviving large-scale drawing by Leonardo.

Parts of the drawing are densely shaded and contrasted with lighter areas to give a three-dimensional effect, for example the figures’ faces and elements of the draperies such as sections of the Virgin’s sleeve and the folds of fabric which cover Saint Anne’s knees. Other areas, such as the women’s headdresses and feet, and Saint Anne’s pointing hand, are simply indicated with outlines.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and the Infant Saint John the Baptist ('The Burlington House Cartoon')
Artist dates
1452 - 1519
Date made
about 1506-8
Medium and support
charcoal with white chalk on paper, mounted on canvas
Dimensions
141.5 × 104.6 cm
Acquisition credit
Purchased with a special grant and contributions from the Art Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, and through a public appeal organised by the Art Fund, 1962
Inventory number
NG6337
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners
Frame
21st-century Replica Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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