Kunsthalle: What We Wanted to See in Prints & Drawings

Our friend was very interested in seeing some drawings by da Vinci. He had been reading a bio of Leonardo on the plane and discovered that Hamburg's Kunsthalle had a large trove of da Vinci drawings. He especially wanted to see a drawing (study) da Vinci did on the theme of St. Sebastian.

We waited around till 2:00 PM (when the Prints & Drawings Room was open to the public) and went in. Private conversation. Two ladies on the side examining prints from the archives with magnifying glasses and gloved hands. No deal: apparently the St Sebastian drawing(s), which I believe were in a da Vinci noteboo, were too fragile to be seen. Second prize: we were treated to a series of Durer prints on the passion. Art scholars for an hour.

*

Is this the da Vinci he was after?


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