““Leonardo da Vinci and Leonardo da Vinci and Creative Female Nature”Creative Female Nature”

By Mary Garrard

Originally Presented by Deidre PriceEdited by: Dr. Kay Picart

AimsAims Explore Garrard’s thesis that da Vinci portrayed

women in a unique, individualistic manner Distinguish da Vinci’s interpretation of women from

the perspective of his predecessors and contemporaries Identify Garrard’s key terms

– Natura creatrix, Natura naturans, Natura naturata

Look at sample paintings which support this reading:– Mona Lisa – the “Great Lady” drawing– Virgin of the Rocks

Conclude with the progressive view of da Vinci

Key TermsKey Terms

Natura creatrix

Natura naturans

Natura naturata

Garrard’s ConclusionsGarrard’s Conclusions

Da Vinci …

Challenged an __________ and __________ model of women

Evaded masculine norms in two ways:– –

Established a ______________ metaphor, thus identifying female power without responding with repression

Discussion QuestionDiscussion Question

With Dan Brown’s recent novel The Da Vinci Code and forthcoming film, starring Tom Hanks, it may be interesting toconnect Brown and Garrard’s readings of da Vinci.

The Da Vinci Code explores a Catholic conspiracy to conceal Jesus’s marriage to Mary Magdalene, whom some believe is seated to the right of Jesus in da Vinci’s The Last Supper. How could Brown’s interpretation of da Vinci further Garrard’s treatment of the artist as a vessel of a feminist message?

The Last Supper The Last Supper in Questionin Question

Works CitedWorks Cited

Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. New York: Doubleday, 2003.

Garrard, Mary D. “Leonardo da Vinci and Creative Female Nature.” Feminism and Tradition in Aesthetics. Eds. Peggy Zeglin Brand and Carolyn Korsmeyer. University Park: Penn State UP, 1995.

Visual CreditsVisual Credits“Leonardo da Vinci”<http://www.liberliber.it/biblioteca/l/leonardo/immagini/ritratto.jpg>

Mona Lisa<http://www.brc.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~actan/gallery/Mona-Lisa.jpg>

“Great Lady” Drawing<http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth213/women_images.html>

Virgin of the Rocks<http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi/largeImage?

workNumber=NG1093&collectionPublisherSection=work>

The Last Supper<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-images/0385504209/ref=cm_ciu_

pdp_images_3/102-5642460-6084131?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s= books&index=3#gallery>