Virgin of the Rocks (Louvre version)

Working in oil on panel (transferred to canvas), Leonardo da Vinci painted this earlier version of his famous composition between 1483 and 1486. The Virgin Mary sits in a rocky grotto with the infant Christ, John the Baptist, and an angel. Commissioned by the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception in Milan, this painting sparked a lengthy payment dispute that resulted in Leonardo creating a second version now in London.

The sfumato technique creates soft, hazy transitions between light and shadow, giving the figures an almost dreamlike quality. Leonardo used oil on panel (later transferred to canvas), allowing him to build up translucent layers of color. The mysterious rocky landscape behind the figures was unprecedented, transforming a religious scene into something more mystical.

The Louvre acquired this painting during the French Revolution. Art historians have debated for centuries why Leonardo painted two versions and which one came first. X-ray analysis reveals significant underdrawing changes, suggesting Leonardo refined his composition as he worked.