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Virgin of the Rocks

Leonardo da Vinci · 1482

A painting by Leonardo da Vinci showing the Madonna and Child in a rocky grotto, created as his first Milanese commission.

This early Milanese commission reveals Leonardo's artistic composition and his interest in geology.

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Painting of a woman in a dark blue mantle with downcast eyes, seated in a rocky grotto with plants. Beside her, a naked infant kneels with hands together, a second infant sits and points upward, and a winged youth in red and grey points toward them.
Leonardo da Vinci, Virgin of the Rocks, 1482. Louvre, Paris.

About this source

What it is

This painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicts the Madonna and Child set within a rocky landscape. It was his first major commission after arriving in Milan and is now held by the Louvre in Paris.

Why it matters

The painting shows Leonardo's use of a pyramid-shaped composition to arrange his figures, and his fascination with geology, visible in the carefully observed rocks of the grotto. It reflects both his artistic skill and his scientific curiosity about the natural world.

Look closer

  • How has Leonardo arranged the figures to create a pyramid shape?
  • What details in the rocks suggest Leonardo studied geology closely?
  • What mood does the grotto setting create for the scene?

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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