The Wick List

Viewing Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael

The Wick Culture - Raphael, The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John the Baptist ('The Esterhazy Madonna'), c. 1508.
Tempera and oil on panel, 28.5 x 21.5 cm.
Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

Above Raphael, The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John the Baptist (‘The Esterhazy Madonna’), c. 1508. Tempera and oil on panel, 28.5 x 21.5 cm. Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

The Wick Culture - Raphael, after Michelangelo Buonarroti, David, c. 1505-08.
Pen and brown ink on paper, 39.6 x 21.9 cm.
© The Trustees of the British Museum

Above Raphael, after Michelangelo Buonarroti, David, c. 1505-08. Pen and brown ink on paper, 39.6 x 21.9 cm. © The Trustees of the British Museum

The Wick Culture - Michelangelo Buonarroti, Studies of Male Heads, Helmets for Soldiers and Facial Features, c.1504. Pen and brown ink and black chalk on paper, 20.5 x 25.3 cm. Hamburger Kunsthalle, Kupferstichkabinett.
Photo: © Hamburger Kunsthalle / bpk. Photography: Christoph Irrgang

Above Michelangelo Buonarroti, Studies of Male Heads, Helmets for Soldiers and Facial Features, c.1504. Pen and brown ink and black chalk on paper, 20.5 x 25.3 cm. Hamburger Kunsthalle, Kupferstichkabinett. Photo: © Hamburger Kunsthalle / bpk. Photography: Christoph Irrgang

The Wick Culture - Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin and Child with St Anne and the Infant St John the Baptist (‘The Burlington House Cartoon’), c.1506-08. Charcoal with white chalk on paper, mounted on canvas, 141.5 x 104.6 cm.
The National Gallery, London. Purchased with a special grant and contributions from the Art Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, and through a public appeal organised by the Art Fund, 1962.

Above Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin and Child with St Anne and the Infant St John the Baptist (‘The Burlington House Cartoon’), c.1506-08. Charcoal with white chalk on paper, mounted on canvas, 141.5 x 104.6 cm. The National Gallery, London. Purchased with a special grant and contributions from the Art Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, and through a public appeal organised by the Art Fund, 1962.

The Wick Culture - Michelangelo Buonarroti, The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John (The 'Taddei Tondo'), c. 1504-05.
Marble, 106.8 x 106.8 cm.
Royal Academy of Arts, London. Bequeathed by Sir George Beaumont, 1830. Photo: Royal Academy of Arts, London, Photographer: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited

Above Michelangelo Buonarroti, The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John (The ‘Taddei Tondo’), c. 1504-05. Marble, 106.8 x 106.8 cm. Royal Academy of Arts, London. Bequeathed by Sir George Beaumont, 1830. Photo: Royal Academy of Arts, London, Photographer: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited

The Wick Culture - Michelangelo Buonarroti, Male Nude, c. 1505-06.
Black chalk on paper, 40.4 x 22.5 cm.
Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Above Michelangelo Buonarroti, Male Nude, c. 1505-06. Black chalk on paper, 40.4 x 22.5 cm. Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Above Raphael, The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John the Baptist (‘The Esterhazy Madonna’), c. 1508. Tempera and oil on panel, 28.5 x 21.5 cm. Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

Above Raphael, after Michelangelo Buonarroti, David, c. 1505-08. Pen and brown ink on paper, 39.6 x 21.9 cm. © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above Michelangelo Buonarroti, Male Nude, c. 1505-06. Black chalk on paper, 40.4 x 22.5 cm. Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael

Royal Academy of Arts
9 November 2024 – 16 February 2025

Three titans of the Italian Renaissance takeover the Royal Academy of Arts from this week, in a scintillating exploration of the historic ongoing rivalry between Michelangelo and Leonardo, the influence of both artists on the younger prodigy, Raphael. The exhibition brings together exceptional drawings – and plenty of salacious art history that shows another side to these major figures.

The feud between the Renaissance revolutionaries, legend has it, began when both were commissioned to create battle scenes for the Council Hall at the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence. Da Vinci’s encaustic technique was botched and caused paint to seep into Michaelangelo’s fresco; the latter responded by destroying his own work. The commission was never completed – but the exhibition includes the sketches for the murals by both artists illustrating what might have been, had the two been able to reconcile their artistic and personal differences.

The exhibition begins in Florence, in January of 1504, the moment when Michelangelo and Leonardo met, both having returned to live in their home city. Then both revered artists with powerful patrons behind them, the occasion of their meeting was to consult on where Michelangelo’s recently completed commission, the David sculpture should be placed – Da Vinci is reported to have said it would be best to cover the statue up. In September of that year, the colossal 17ft marble masterpiece would be unveiled in the public square in front of the Palazzo della Signora. Michelangelo later retorted that he felt nothing on viewing Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.