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

2. 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

3. Key Terms
Natura creatrix
Natura naturans
Natura naturata

4. 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

5. 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?

6. The Last Supper in Question

7. 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.

8. Visual Credits “Leonardo da Vinci”
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Mona Lisa
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“Great Lady” Drawing
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Virgin of the Rocks
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The Last Supper
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