The Madonna of the Carnation 1480

Leonardo da Vinci likely painted The Madonna of the Carnation in the 1470s, using oil on wood. Oil paint was fairly new at the time, but it allowed for the subtle gradations of light and shadow that Leonardo was exploring, and for an incredible realism, as seen in the Madonna's dress. Grinding and mixing pigments took considerable time, not to mention the layering of glazes required to build up the final image. Although the composition is traditional, Leonardo departed from convention with his intense observation of the natural world. This can be seen in the distant mountains, and of course in the faces and bodies of Mary and the infant Jesus, which is so lifelike. Ultimately, what Leonardo achieved with this painting transcends the sum of its material parts. He was not just a craftsman, but an artist of the highest order, capable of capturing the human spirit on canvas. This painting embodies a pivotal moment in art history, where the boundaries between craft and fine art began to blur.