The Virgin Of The Rocks

One of Leonardo da Vinci’s fifteen surviving paintings, The Virgin of the Rocks is one of the most popular pieces on display. The painting was purchased in the late 1800’s by the Gallery after chaning hands of ownership several times over the years after it was commissioned by the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception.
Leonardo was most famous for bold use of light and darkness. The Virgin is one of only a few that was painted on genuine wood panels and amazingly enough, another drawing has been detected underneath the Virigin. Most of his paintings reflected the religious atmosphere of that period of time and the Virgin on the Rocks features a scroll reading; Behold the Lamb of God.

Visitors at the National Gallery of London are amazed at the world renowned gallery of paintings and including those of Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh and Constable. The museum offers one of the most extensive collections found anywhere in the world with approximately 2,000 pieces on display at any time.
A similar painting is located at the Louvre and both share Leonardo’s use of nature by portraying various plants for their symbolic meaning. The Louvre painting does have some minor differences such as being set in autumn and portraying the angel in such a way that it can be perceived as either male or female.