“Leonardo da Vinci and Creative Female Nature” By Mary Garrard Originally Presented by Deidre Price Edited by: Dr. Kay Picart

Aims 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 Terms Natura creatrix Natura naturans Natura naturata

Garrard’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 Question With Dan Brown’s recent novel The Da Vinci Code and forthcoming film, starring Tom Hanks, it may be interesting to connect 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 in Question

Works 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 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>