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Secondary sourcePainting

Leonardo da Vinci portrait line engraving by Raphael Morghen

R. Morghen

An engraved portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, made after an earlier likeness long after his death.

A posthumous engraved portrait showing how Leonardo da Vinci's likeness was imagined and circulated after his death.

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Black and white line engraving of a bearded man in a dark brimmed cap and dark cloak, turned three-quarters to the left. Below the image is the printed title LEONARDO DA VINCI, with small inscriptions in the margins.
R. Morghen, line engraving of Leonardo da Vinci, after an earlier likeness. Wellcome Collection, London.

About this source

What it is

This is a black-and-white line engraving showing a bearded man in a dark cap and cloak, turned slightly to one side. It was made by the engraver R. Morghen, copying an earlier image said to show Leonardo da Vinci. It is held today by the Wellcome Collection in London.

Why it matters

The engraving was made long after Leonardo's death, so it does not show us exactly what he looked like in life. Instead, it shows how later generations imagined and spread his image, helping build his lasting fame as an artist and thinker.

Look closer

  • What details make this look like an "official" portrait rather than a casual sketch?
  • Why might artists centuries later want to create a portrait of Leonardo?
  • What can't we know for certain from an image made after someone's death?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Leonardo da Vinci on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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