Famous works by Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael come to London

On 25 January 1504, the most prominent artists of Florence convened to deliberate on a fitting location for Michelangelo’s nearly finished masterpiece, David. Among this illustrious assembly was Leonardo da Vinci, who, like Michelangelo, had recently returned to his native city. The upcoming exhibition, “Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504,” aims to delve into the rivalry between these two titans of the Renaissance and examine the significant influence they exerted on the young Raphael. This exhibition will showcase over 40 remarkable works, including Michelangelo’s Taddei Tondo, Leonardo’s Burlington House Cartoon, and Raphael’s Bridgewater Madonna, as well as some of the most exquisite drawings from the Italian Renaissance. Opening with Michelangelo’s only marble sculpture in the UK, the celebrated Taddei Tondo, c. 1504-05 (Royal Academy of Arts, London), attendees will witness the related preparatory drawings that illuminate the creation of this iconic relief. Created amid the vibrant atmosphere of Republican Florence, when Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael intersected in their artistic pursuits, the Taddei Tondo profoundly influenced Raphael’s work, evident in pieces like the Bridgewater Madonna, c. 1507-08 (Bridgewater Collection Loan, National Galleries of Scotland), and the Esterházy Madonna, c. 1508 (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest), both of which will be displayed prominently. The central gallery of the exhibition will be dedicated to Leonardo’s Burlington House Cartoon, c. 1506-08 (The National Gallery, London), marking its return to the Royal Academy for the first time in over six decades. The display, along with the accompanying catalogue, will unveil new research into the original context of this significant work…. Read More