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Leonardo da Vinci 500th Anniversary, Salvator Mundi

On the eve of the 500th anniversary of his death, Front Row discusses the art, legacy and enduring mysteries of Leonardo da Vinci.

Ben Lewis talks about his book The Last Leonardo, about the world's most expensive work of art, the painting Salvator Mundi. Authenticated as a Leonardo in 2011, he examines its journey from Leonardo鈥檚 workshop in Milan through to the present day and explains why he has doubts about its authenticity.

Art critic Waldemar Januszczak and editor of The Art Newspaper Alison Cole assess Leonardo's extraordinary art and legacy, from the Mona Lisa to The Last Supper.

One of the UK鈥檚 foremost vocal ensembles I Fagiolini talk about and perform live from their new album, Leonardo - Shaping the Invisible, in which they have matched Leonardo da Vinci's artworks with vocal masterworks, illuminating his images through the prism of music.

Presenter: John Wilson
Producer: Edwina Pitman

Available now

29 minutes

Leonardo da Vinci 500th Anniversary

Leonardo da Vinci 500th Anniversary

Images:

Main image above: Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci

Image credit: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Image to the left: Leonardo da Vinci听 1452 - 1519

Infant Saint John the Baptist adoring the Christ Child accompanied by an Angel

(The Virgin of the Rocks)听 Panels from the S. Fancesco Altarpiece, Milan

about 1491/2-9 and 1506 -8

oil on paper 189.5 x 120 cm

Image credit: The National Gallery

Salvator Mundi

Salvator Mundi

Ben Lewis's book is out now in hardback and as an eBook.

Image: Ben Lewis

I Fagiolini

I Fagiolini

I听Fagiolini 's CD is available now.

I Fagiolini's 2019 tour is on going, and here are some of the dates:

02 May -听St George's Bristol

01 June - Purbeck Arts Week, Dorset

27 July - Petworth Festival, West Sussex

Image: I Fagiolini performing Shaping the Invisible

Image credit: Mark Allan/Barbican

Broadcast

  • Wed 1 May 2019 19:15

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