Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have Conte Carlo Lasinio’s portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The sheet measures about 20 by 16 centimeters. Editor: He looks…contemplative, maybe? A little world-weary. That beard is magnificent, though. It gives him such gravity. Curator: The portrait taps into that Renaissance ideal of the universal man—artist, scientist, inventor. Lasinio’s image reflects how later generations wanted to see Leonardo: the genius. Editor: I see the genius, sure, but I also see someone who looks like he's just figured out how to fix your washing machine...with a smile. Curator: Indeed, it is a more romanticized version of the great master, cementing his legendary status. Editor: Well, I’m sold. I’d buy a print, absolutely. Curator: A legacy well-burnished, it seems. Editor: It’s intriguing how even portraits become part of the art's ongoing narrative.