Leonardo da Vinci's Saint John the Baptist in Milan (11/27/09-12/27/09)

Leonardo in Milan, San Giovani Battista

"From 27 November to 27 December 2009 Palazzo Marino will open its doors to the public for another extraordinary event, repeating the previous experience dedicated to Caravaggio, with a monographic exhibition of the highest order.

Promoted and organised by Eni and the Milan city council, in cooperation with the Louvre and with the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Arts and Heritage, curated by Valeria Merlini and Daniela Storti, the exhibition: Leonardo in Milan From the Louvre to Palazzo Marino an extraordinary showing of the painting San Giovanni Battista by Leonardo da Vinci will offer to the public free access, for the entire month, to admire and absorb one of Leonardo da Vinci's greatest masterpieces.

The loan of San Giovanni Battista is part of a wide-ranging collaboration between Eni, the Milan city council and the Louvre, and once again makes the city of Milan and Palazzo Marino protagonists, a year after the showing of the Conversione di Saulo by Caravaggio, of a public exhibition of unquestionable value.

The painting San Giovanni Battista is one of the most enigmatic works of Leonardo da Vinci and marks a high point in his artistic achievement. The aim of this exhibition is to show the work in optimum circumstances, in terms of space and lighting, repeating the monographic approach that characterised last year's success with the Caravaggio work from the Odescalchi collection.
Leonardo's San Giovanni Battista was completed in the artist's studio, in 1517, in Cloux in France, where he was to spend the last years of his life. The painting has only been seen in Italy once before, also in Milan, in 1939, on the occasion of an exhibition dedicated to the work of Leonardo, before it returned to France where it is on permanent display.
The exhibition will offer visitors a preparatory path, with a display of panels, images and videos providing background information to facilitate a greater understanding of a painting in which the magnetic gaze of the subject, with its enigmatic smile – which so recalls the even more celebrated Mona Lisa – and the spiritual recall symbolised by the harmoniously blended hand gesture."