Leonardo Da Vinci- National Gallery

I would love to see this show, but there is no way I can shuffle round that sort of 'blockbuster' show with hordes of other people any longer. Now I prefer small shows that I can see properly and at a pace that suits me.

Sadly all the advance sale tickets have gone

Exactly.

Like Homer Simpson?

Artistic emphasis? I believe cartoonists found that hands were more realistic with only 3 fingers and a thumb, not the standard 4 +1.

Yes!!

Has anyone else noticed how long the subject's fingers are in many of the paintings? Can there be a hidden reason for this?

Jacey We'd have reached the moon in the 19C and Queen Victoria would have had a facebook page, provided he did not get distracted by a new idea..

Agree Elegran ...too many 'talking heads' ...I really like his drawings ...both for his art work, but especially for his science and technology investigations.

Was taken ...more years ago than I like to remember ...by my parents ...to Windsor Castle to see her collection of cartoons and drawings ...absoultely amazing.

Have often wondered what he might have discovered/invented if he'd been born in 1852 instead of 1452

I don't actually care for renaissance painters, but I like Leonardo's drawings. The last exhibition in London I went to was the Frederick Leighton exhibition at the Royal Academy. His paintings are wonderful and much printed and it was lovely to see such works as Flaming June "in the flesh". When we go to London, if there is time, I always like to visit the Portrait Gallery. As for Fiona, I can take her or leave her - I got bored to death with the Royal Palaces and never finished watching it. My choice of presenter would be Brian Sewell. He's very knowledgeable and I absolutely love to hear his voice - it's like runny honey!

I am going with my sister on Monday 12 December, am really looking forward to it.

I have got on to a trip to the Leonardo exhibition in early December with the Retirement Education Centre where I am currently doing Art History. Coach there and back, no overcrowded trains or paying an arm and a leg for parking at the station! And a group of like-minded friends to enjoy it with. I just feel guilty that DH can't come too but it sold out almost immediately.

I would have liked to see more closeups of the actual paintings. Lots of views of talking heads being interviewed (some more interesting than others) but they missed a chance to zoom in really close to see the details and Leonardo's brush strokes.

Sky Arts 1... 7pm tonight

You might like to check this site out too ...
uk.news.yahoo.com/photos/leonardo-da-vinci-comes-to-london-1320744177-slideshow/

OK ...think ...if brain was working ... Sky Arts next tuesday ...live programme from the opening!! ...linked to name 'Roy Strong'!! dorsetpennt

Leonardo de Vinci has done so much more than the Mony Lisa and The Last Supper. When I go to the Louvre I give it a miss. He invented or had the idea of, the bicycle, ball bearings, helicopters and even the way repairmen climb up telegraph poles using pulleys. And then all the drawings of human anatomy.
I saw an exhibition of all his drawings once in the former East Germany. Just a modest advertisement, no TV programme but 3 hours worth of genius to study in detail.
As to Fiona Bruce. I'm not surprised I'm not the only one who cringes at her style, even reading the news. She sounds to me as if Mummy sent her to too many elecution lessons.

She sings as well?!!!

That's why I didn't watch it ...FB ...had too much of her in the palaces programmes ...including her singing!!
yes dorsetpennt ...all for keeping BBC4

Oh, you must know what I mean Annobel.

And I certainly wasn't taking it that seriously.

I think if anyone turned up at the Louvre expecting to see the Mona Lisa and it wasn't there they'd be devastated; I know I would be. Our cinema is showing the opening night live on 8th November 7pm and a lot of other cinemas are doing the same [in the way that they show National Theatre productions now]. Obviously not the same as actually 'seeing' the paintings, though.

I have no quarrel with Fiona Bruce and as for being 'little miss perfect' - for goodness' sake, would it be better if she was imperfect? I think someone as bright and well-presented as she is probably can't win with an audience of women. I bet the granddads rate her!

I didn't know that there was a copy of the last supper in this country. Made very near the time it was painted, so it shows what it was like before it started disintegrating.

The French will be keeping the Mona Lisa at home in case someone steals it or slashes it.

Yes. Very good Butternut

Isn't it because bits are peeling off of it ("degrading")? They probably don't dare move it.

It's on at the National Gallery until February.

The Mona Lisa will not be exhibited. I wonder why not. Bit of an enigma, that.