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Vitruvian Man: Da Vinci piece to go on display in Louvre | Vitruvian Man: Da Vinci piece to go on display in Louvre |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Leonardo da Vinci's famous Vitruvian Man is bound for Paris despite an attempt to ban it from leaving Italy. | |
The 500-year-old drawing was set to be transported to the Louvre for an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of da Vinci's death. | The 500-year-old drawing was set to be transported to the Louvre for an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of da Vinci's death. |
But an Italian court had suspended the planned loan after non-profit group Italia Nostra (Our Italy) argued that the piece was too fragile to travel. | |
On Wednesday, judges decided the rare public display could go ahead. | On Wednesday, judges decided the rare public display could go ahead. |
The iconic drawing is usually kept in a climate-controlled room in the Accademia Gallery in Venice. | The iconic drawing is usually kept in a climate-controlled room in the Accademia Gallery in Venice. |
The piece is one of da Vinci's most famous works, and there are fears that its delicate nature – it is drawn in ink on paper – means it is at risk of lasting damage while on display. | |
In September, an agreement was made between Italy's culture ministry and the Louvre to temporarily swap works by da Vinci for works by Italian painter Raphael. | |
Italia Nostra, however, was concerned for the safety of Vitruvian Man. Italy's former nationalist government had also queried the loan, at a time of growing tensions between France and Italy over immigration. | Italia Nostra, however, was concerned for the safety of Vitruvian Man. Italy's former nationalist government had also queried the loan, at a time of growing tensions between France and Italy over immigration. |
The court concluded that the loan could go ahead, noting that other works had been transported overseas previously, including The Fall of Phateon, a drawing by Michelangelo. | |
It added that the exhibition had "exceptional global relevance" and Italy wanted to "maximise its heritage potential." | It added that the exhibition had "exceptional global relevance" and Italy wanted to "maximise its heritage potential." |
The Vitruvian Man was based on the writings of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, who correlated the measurements and design of the human body into architecture. | The Vitruvian Man was based on the writings of the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, who correlated the measurements and design of the human body into architecture. |
Fewer than 20 da Vinci paintings are still in existence. Five of them are currently at the Louvre Museum, along with 22 drawings. | |
Da Vinci, who was born in 1452 in Italy, was a Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect and mathematician. | Da Vinci, who was born in 1452 in Italy, was a Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect and mathematician. |
Why is the Vitruvian Man so iconic? | |
Dr Joanne Allen, senior professional lecturer at American University's Department of Art, told the BBC that the Vitruvian Man is a "highly unusual drawing for Leonardo." | |
"It is a very well-finished pen-and-ink drawing completed to express a concise intellectual idea, not a sketch of a scientific observation or a preparatory drawing for a painting," she said. | |
Dr Allen said that da Vinci based the image on a statement by the Roman architect Vitruvius, who believed the ideally proportioned human figure could fit into a circle and a square. | |
"Leonardo, however, scientifically adjusted the centre point of the circle away from the navel to ensure the whole scheme fitted together; this had not been done before in such a convincing way," she added. | |
"Leonardo utilized two perfect forms - the square and the circle - which had historically symbolized the earth and the heavens respectively, and placed man at the centre of all." | |
Dr Allen said the work's themes of perfection and unity make it one of the most important works of the Italian Renaissance. |
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