I got through about two thirds of the Leonardo show before they closed the gallery. It was a privilege to soak in the breadth and brilliance of his drawings and paintings. My nose hovered in the space above paper where the Master's fingers stroked details small and large over 400 years ago. Most people engaged the artwork up close or with magnifying glasses, but I reveled in the oblique perspective where Da Vinci's drawing process could be seen. In the dim gallery light, I saw sketch stylus marks, compass needle holes, scuffs, and the rich textures of the paints and paper. This was a surface dimension that's impossible to perceive in book reproductions. I applaud the show organizers who worked 10 years to convince various owners to release these delicate pieces to American light.


- mike lee - new york and baltimore - curiouslee.com