The Virgin of the Rocks: Leonardo da Vinci's mysterious masterpiece

The Virgin of the Rocks, sometimes the Madonna of the Rocks, is the name used for two paintings of the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci.

The two paintings are about the same subject, showing the Madonna and Christ Child with the infant John the Baptist and an angel Uriel in a rocky setting which gives the paintings their usual name.

One painting usually hangs in the Louvre, Paris, and the other in the National Gallery, London. They are often known as the Louvre Virgin of the Rocks and the London Virgin of the Rocks, respectively.

Both masterpieces are oil-painted on wooden panels. However, the Louvre Virgin of the Rocks has been transferred to canvas.

The compositions of the two paintings have some significant differences regarding the gaze and the angel's right hand. Some minor differences include the colours, the lighting, the flora, and the way in which sfumato has been used.

Leonardo da Vinci's 'Virgin of the Rocks' is his most enigmatic painting. There are still some questions about the history of the two paintings, including the production date of each painting.

And why did Leonardo paint two versions of the same works? Why did da Vinci place Madonna in a cave?

This documentary film answers those questions as well as other secrets of Leonardo’s masterpieces.