24 OCTOBER 2025 - 24 DECEMBER 2025
Leonardo Da Vinci
To commemorate the 500-year death anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci, the Musée du Louvre is holding a major retrospective of the painter’s career
Louvre
S
Paris, France
About
It took more than a decade to prepare and was almost thwarted by a diplomatic row. Now, one of the world's most expensive art exhibitions is finally opening to the public.
It took more than a decade to prepare and was almost thwarted by a diplomatic row. Now, one of the world's most expensive art exhibitions is finally opening to the public The exhibition, which is expected to attract more than half a million visitors over the next four months, aims to provide a deeper understanding of the artist's working methods using his notebooks, infrared imaging technology and virtual reality.
Youcanreallygetintohisbrainandtrytoseehowhethought
Building on the museum's Leonardo collection – already the best in the world with five paintings and 22 drawings – the show has been in the making and will feature over 120 works, sourced from some of the most prestigious european and american institutions
The works – paintings, drawings, manuscripts, sculptures and artifacts – will be displayed in the museum's Napoleon Hall for four months starting October 24, and end December 24.
Exhibition
in numbers
4
section of art to discover
10
years in making an exhibition
15
collections of museums
120
of Da Vinci's works and paintings
Who isLeonardo?
to do list:
paint the most recognised painting in the world
become the epitome of Rénassance
invent a flying machine, parachute and harp
become friends with french king Francois I
What will you see?
The museum is seizing the opportunity in this year of commemorations to gather as many of the artist’s paintings as possible around the five core works in its collection.
Swipe right
1503 - 1506
Mona Lisa
The “Gioconda” or Mona Lisa, probably the most famous portrait in the world.The woman depicted is Lisa Gherardini, i.e. “Mona” (short for “Madonna” , “Signora”), the wife of the noble Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo (thus the term “Gioconda” is also used).
1490 - 1497
La Belle Ferronnière
Leonardo had painted a portrait of Sforza's previous mistress, Cecilia The painting is also known as 'La Belle Ferronnière,' after the headband with a jewel worn by the subject.
1492 - 1506
Virgin of the Rocks
This mysterious painting by Leonardo da Vinci shows the Virgin, Christ, Saint John, and an angel in a dark landscape, which is what makes the image so striking and so unusual
1513 - 1516
Saint John the Baptist
It is believed to be Leonardo’s last painting. The pointing gesture Many people are critical of this work, because St. John seems almost to be a hermaphrodite.
1503 - 1519
Madonna and Saint Anne
Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus – three generations, two the fruit of immaculate conception – are portrayed in a landscape.
Notebooks and infrared technology
The exhibition provide a deeper understanding of the artist's working methods using his notebooks and infrared imaging technology. This technique allow us to see initial Leonardo’s drafts and how he perfected his compositions.
‘Science
of painting’
You will know how Leonardo placed utmost importance on painting, and how his study of the world — which he referred to as ‘the science of painting’ — was the vessel of an art through which he sought to give life to his paintings.
Unique
documets
We shed light on Leonardo’s biography through the exhaustive reexamination of historical documentation, providing access to his artistic universe and relationship to painting.
He used a veryparticular and originalmethod of workbased onscience
Programm
Click and drag around
Mona Lisa:
Beyond the Glass
Highlight of the exhibition is the first VR experience presented to the public by the Louvre Museum.
It incorporates scientific research to reveal details within the painting otherwise invisible to the naked eye
How to get to us?
Address
Musée du Louvre, Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France. Hall Napoléon, under the Pyramid
Metro station
Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7) and Pyramides (line 14)
Bus:
no. 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95
Vélib’ bike-rental stations:
No. 1015: 2 Place André Malraux
No. 1023: 165 Rue Saint-Honoré
No. 1014: 5 Rue de l’Echelle
No. 1013: 186 Rue Saint-Honoré
Car:
Underground parking is available on Avenue du Général Lemonier. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m