Saint John the Baptist [Leonardo da Vinci]

St. John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci has been through the art-ringer.

Who would think that a professional conservation recommendation would cause so much blow-back. What was the big to-do you might ask? Well, folks were nervous that one of Leonardo’s last artworks would be damaged during the restoration like another poor painting by the artist, The Virgin and Child with St. Anne.

I mean, I get it, to some art historians the restorers f---ed up bad. Like so bad they should never have graduated with their conservation degree bad. In short, the conservation of The Virgin and Child with St. Anne was fraught form the beginning with restorers, art historians, and museum employees from the Louvre Museum arguing about the proper way to go about cleaning the painting. Two art experts believed the painting was stripped of some essential details, while others believed the cleaning was long overdue. It was a hot mess that management at the Louvre did not want to get into again.

But, St. John the Baptist, was really dirty. I mean, it hasn’t been cleaned in over 200 years (the last cleaning was in 1802.) So it’s understandable that the team at the Louvre would want to bring the late masterpiece to life, in spite of the risks associated with any major conservation project.

Aside from one of the world’s leading Leonardo da Vinci scholars who found the cleaning reprehensible, the conservation project was seen as a success. Over fifteen layers of varnish was removed from the canvas, relaying the artist’s famous sfumato technique, and showcases St. John’s voluptuous curls and fur pelt he wears in the portrait. Not only was the painting brought back to life so to speak, but through new x-ray technology, experts were able to see that Leo himself repeatedly retouched the painting until he died in 1519. The painting was commissioned for the private adoration of a well-to-do client, and now after the cleaning we can see why. Those curls, that twinkle in his eye makes the high cost of restoration worth it.

Restoring Leonardos is a risky business, and as time goes on, the art of restoring these masterpieces will only magnify. But for now, let’s all try to get along and agree it is a pleasure to see Leonardo’s talent in the little details of St. John the Baptist.

Here is what Wikipedia says about Saint John the Baptist (Leonardo)

Saint John the Baptist is a High Renaissance oil painting on walnut wood by Leonardo da Vinci. Likely to have been completed between 1513 and 1516, it is believed to be his final painting. Its original size was 69 by 57 centimetres (27 in × 22 in).

The painting is in the collection of the Louvre. In November 2022, it was loaned to Louvre Abu Dhabi for two years as part of the museum's fifth anniversary.