I. Miarelli Mariani – “Neoclassical Leonardo”. Paintings and engravings in Rome between the 18^th and 19^th centuries

The essay examines the fortunes of a number of Roman paintings considered to be originals by Leonardo da Vinci between the 18th and 19th centuries, but which are actually by Bernardino Luini and Cesare da Sesto. In particular amongst these are the Barberini Truth and Modesty, Aldobrandini Christ among the Doctors, the Barberini Herodias and the Lunette of Sant'Onofrio in the church of the same name on the Janiculum. All these works have been reproduced several times in paintings and engravings, commemorated in contemporary memoirs and novels and unfortunately very soon exported abroad. Only St. Jerome, the only original by Leonardo, now in the Vatican Museums, has not left the city, and is mentioned for the first time in the collection of the painter and connoisseur Angelica Kauffmann, without however receiving any contemporary critical attention.

Leonardo da Vinci, copies, engravings, Angelica Kauffmann