Leonardo da Vinci's Saint John the Baptist of 1513 and his pupil Salai's version

Here are two St John the Baptists. One is by Leonardo da Vinci, 1513; the other is by his pupil Salai.

According to a popular legend, da Vinci painted John the Baptist from his favourite apprentice, nicknamed Salai. Salai's features, however, are also detected in other works by the master: even in the Mona Lisa.

Salai himself painted his St John (at least the second picture is attributed to him) under the impression of da Vinci's work, repeating the pose, the gesture and the expression exactly, but endowing the figure with greater liveliness and brilliance. Perhaps the whole point is that in effect it is a self-portrait

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

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Leonardo da Vinci's Saint John the Baptist of 1513 and his pupil Salai's version

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

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