Leonardo da Vinci's Three Most Famous Commissioned Works
This paper examines three of Leonardo da Vinci's most celebrated paintings — the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and Lady with an Ermine — exploring how each was commissioned, its artistic innovations, and its cultural significance. Drawing on da Vinci's role as a polymath working within the Renaissance patron system, the paper highlights key compositional choices, symbolic elements, and historical context for each work. The analysis also touches on notable discoveries, such as the revelation that Lady with an Ermine was originally painted without the animal, and the deliberate use of impermanent oil in The Last Supper. Together, these works illustrate both da Vinci's genius and the broader professional realities of Renaissance artists.
- Introduction: Da Vinci as Polymath and Artist: Overview of da Vinci's life and artistic range
- The Mona Lisa: Origins, composition, and iconic features of the portrait
- The Last Supper: Commission, symbolism, and condition of the mural
- Lady with an Ermine: Earlier portrait with recent revelations about revisions
- Conclusion: The Patron System and Da Vinci's Legacy: Commissioned work as lens for Renaissance artistic practice
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What makes this paper effective
- Each body paragraph follows a consistent structure: identifying the work, explaining its commission context, and analyzing its distinctive artistic features.
- The conclusion ties all three works together thematically, using the patron system as a unifying lens rather than simply summarizing each painting again.
- The paper grounds aesthetic observations in historical context, explaining why particular choices — such as the use of oil or the addition of the ermine — were meaningful at the time.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This paper demonstrates the use of contextual art analysis: each painting is evaluated not only on its visual qualities but also in terms of who commissioned it, why, and what social or religious functions it served. This approach shows how meaning in art is shaped by patronage, religious tradition, and historical circumstance — not solely by the artist's individual vision.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief biographical introduction to da Vinci as a polymath, then devotes one focused paragraph to each of the three major works. A concluding paragraph steps back to reflect on what the three works collectively reveal about Renaissance artistic practice. References are cited in APA format throughout.
Introduction: Da Vinci as Polymath and Artist
Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 and devoted his life to studying the laws of science alongside the practice of art. He is famous for his sketches and drawings depicting the human form and fantastical devices — such as flying machines — that were revolutionary for their time. He was also a master painter whose work spanned portraits and religious commissions alike. As an apprentice to an established artist, he acquired a wide range of skills that would later be applied across many different works (Biography, 2015). As a polymath, da Vinci was able to execute an exceptionally broad range of subjects, and his art took many different forms. This paper examines three of his most famous works — the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, and Lady with an Ermine — outlining how each came about and what its significance is.
References
Biography (2015). Leonardo da Vinci. Biography.com. Retrieved May 6, 2015 from http://www.biography.com/people/leonardo-da-vinci-40396#renaissance-man
Bloom, D. (2014). The changing face of da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine. The Daily Mail. Retrieved May 6, 2015 from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2774479/The-changing-face-Da-Vinci-s-Lady-Ermine-Scans-artist-changed-mind-masterpiece-originally-painted-without-animal.html
No author (2015). Da Vinci's The Last Supper, Milan. TickItaly.com. Retrieved May 6, 2015 from http://www.tickitaly.com/galleries/davinci-last-supper.php
Scaillierez, C. (2015). Mona Lisa — portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. Louvre.fr. Retrieved May 6, 2015 from
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