The Virgin with the Laughing Child is a 20 inch-tall (50 cm) sculpture made of red clay. The sculpture was dated around 1472, and the curators suggest that da Vinci created it when he was a student of the Florentine master Andrea del Verrocchio. You can see a photo of the sculpture below.
Can you recognize the enigmatic smile of the Virgin Mary, looking down affectionately at a happy and also smiling baby Jesus? Curators noticed it, too, linking the sculpture to 2 masterpieces by da Vinci: The Mona Lisa and The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne.
Here is a reminder of how both of these charming women look like (see picture below). Speaking of which, if you’d like to learn more about Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings, we have an in-depth article about his best works that can be accessed via the link here.
Scholars also pointed out the obsessive precision, with which the sculptor depicted the complex and voluminous draperies around the Virgin Mary, a signature feature of da Vinci’s style in paintings.
Another clue lies in the baby Christ’s smile. You see, in the 15th century, it was nearly blasphemous and outright forbidden to portray Christ, the baby, laughing. At the time, the Catholic Church propagated the idea that Christ was born with the intelligence and wisdom of an adult.
The Mona Lisa (left) and The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (right)
To communicate this Biblical fact, they insisted on portraying baby Jesus with a serious or even adult-looking face. Now, the infant in this sculpture is definitely smiling, and we know from da Vinci’s journals that he once got in trouble when he was young for misrepresenting Jesus, the baby.
Could this be the very artwork that he wrote about? Only time will show.
The Virgin with the Laughing Child isn’t the only artwork recently attributed to Leonardo. Less than a week ago, art critics concluded that a famous charcoal drawing nicknamed “The Nude Mona Lisa”, which was previously believed to belong to da Vinci’s students, is most likely the great master’s work as well.
Extensive testing and investigators concluded that Monna Vanna, pictured in comparison to The Mona Lisa below is, in fact, da Vinci’s own work. The analysis of the charcoal drawing also confirmed an interesting fact about Leonardo himself: from the left-handed charcoal marks on the painting experts were able to tell that he was most certainly a lefty.
If you’re curious to learn more about Leonardo da Vinci, particularly about his career as a master inventor, take a look at our article about da Vinci's inventions that were ahead of their time.
The Most Famous Masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci is widely held to be the greatest visual artist and all-round renaissance man in human history. Here are his 10 most famous art works.
Renaissance-Man Raphael Was an Incredible Genius...
Did you know that Renaissance master, Raphael, died at the tender age of 37? How he could produce such a library of masterpieces is truly astonishing!
Stars Meet Their Past Selves in This Delightful Collection
Artist Ard Gelinck photoshops well-known celebrities with their younger versions. Here are some of her new creations.
22 Celebrities Who Make Getting Older Look So Cool
These celebrities are ageless!
A Beginner's GUIDE to Sculpting with Clay
This guide will be your comprehensive introduction to the world of sculpting, with a focus on traditional clay modeling.
Lifelike Animal Sculptures Made of Cardboard - Stunning!
Believe it or not, these realistic animal sculptures are all made of a material that is found in ample supply in most homes - old cardboard boxes.
Looking at 8 of Michelangelo's Most Celebrated Sculptures
We have compiled a list of the top 8 most exquisite sculptures by Michelangelo, along with the fascinating stories behind them.
This Food Art of Kids' Favorite Characters Is Remarkable!
One mom turns her child's meals into amazing food art. Here are 20 of her greatest dishes.
Watch an Amazing Performance of Andre Rieu's 'Think of Me'
If you're as big a fan of The Phantom of the Opera as I am, then you're absolutely going to love this harmonious version of the classic song, Think of Me.
A Dusty Car Window Is a Canvas For Some People
When some artists spot a dirty car window they take it as an opportunity...
The Agile Riverdance of Michael Flately!
When it comes to huge performances of riverdance, no one can hold a candle to Michael Flately!
Behold the Card Trick Master!
It's always great to see someone who is a real master in what he does.
When These Kids Pick Up Guitars Something Amazing Happens
These young North Korean children play like professionals, how is it even possible?
A Deep Dive into Trevi Fountain’s 2,000-Year History
Apart from its elegance and grandeur, the Trevi Fountain has a history that spans millennia...
You Haven’t Seen This Kind of Detail in Glass Art Before!
Glass is an unexpectedly flexible material - and artist Amber Cowan takes advantage of this fact to turn it into beautiful artwork...
When Waltz and Skating Combine Ever So Sweetly
André Rieu once again brings to life a beautiful classical music performance, this time pertaining to ice skating.
Dancing on One Leg, This Boy is Incredible!
Watch as this boy performs his one-legged dance routine.
This Magician is Very Mysterious and Utterly Unique!
This talent show has seen many magicians, but none like this one.
WATCH: This Dancing Family of 12 Is So Adorably Talented
This exciting dance and music performance is unique, because it's entirely the product of one very large and talented American family. They blew me away!
This Miniature String Quartet Know How to Spring Surprises
This string quartet called 'Joyous String Quartet' are the most talented musicians of their age I've seen so far!
A Sublime Musical Courtship that is Both Funny and Beautiful
A delightful rendition of Salsa De La Luna as a romantic interaction between two violins.
Gosh, These Artful Sculptures are Quite Brilliant
Discover some of the most creative and innovative street statues from around the world.
These Miniatures are Worth Their Weight in Gold...
Jon Almeda's miniature creations are worth their weight in gold...
Watch These Acrobats Defy Gravity in an Amazing Circus Act
You’ll be on the edge of your seat watching these talented Russian circus acrobats perform feats on the teeterboard like you've never seen.
The True Story About the Pursuit of Happiness
Watch as this video takes you into the hunt for happiness, our common goal, as we trudge through the monotony of every day life
I Was Blown Away by the Detail in these Spectacular Art Works
Calvin Nicholls' technique seems to be a cross between drawing and sculpture. He uses fine lines of an intricate sketch, yet captures three-dimensionality of a statue. This is a collection of his incredible work.
How Does He Do It? This Magician Is Beyond Incredible!
28-year-old Ben Hart magic tricks will turn even the most stern-faced skeptic into a believer. Tell us if you can figure out how he does these things, because we certainly can’t!
A 5-Year-Old Delivers a Jaw-Dropping Piano Performance!
Meet Jonah Ho, the 5-Year-Old piano prodigy. In this video, he plays Fantasie Impromptu in C-sharp Minor Op.66 of Chopin, and we are STUNNED!
Ten Art Pieces You Always Wanted to Know More About
Once in a while, a true master comes along, enriching humanity with their art, like these 10 great masters and their masterpieces.
This Performance Took Me Back to a Joyous Time in My Life
Have a listen to this beautiful song...
Gaudi: The Iconic Architect That Made Buildings Look Alive
Antoni Gaudi is the most famous Modernist architect. This is a story of his life and creative evolution.
10 Famous Landscape Artists and Their Masterpieces!
Are you a fan of landscape art? If so, we have just the treat for you here! Here you’ll find 10 of the most famous landscape artists and their masterpieces.
This Has to Be One of the Best Musical Trios Ever!
What a classical team 2Cellos and Lang Lang make! Their performance of "Live and Let Die" is outstanding!
Take a Closer Look... These Are Not Photographs
It may be hard to believe, but what follows are not photographs, but watercolor paintings, created by Spanish artist Iban Navarro.
What a Funny Way to Illustrate the World's Proverbs!
Artist James Chapman loves proverbs. Here are 20 collected from around the world and illustrated marvelously. The wisdom of these leaps right from the page.
Hilarious! Who Said Classical Music Has to Be Dull?
Polish string quartet perform funny seasonal medley
Frankenstein’s Mother: the Amazing Life of Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley's life was one of great tragedies, but also amazing achievements, being one of the first widely-respected female novelists.
This Wonderful Chorus Group Will Fly You to Musical Heaven
This amazing gospel chorus will bring heaven down to you!
It's Amazing What an Artist Can Do With a Humble Bookend
Monde is an artist like no other - he turned his attention to bookends, drawing inspiration from the city of Tokyo. Take a look at his unique and amazing work.
The Beauty of Female Portraits Through the Centuries
This video is truly a testament to that statement that it is a small artistic world after all.
Greek Mythology: Six Mind Blowing, Ancient Tales...
From inspiring heroes to truly tyrannical villains, these great stories from Greek Mythology will reverberate with you for years to come, from the music of Orpheus to the defiance of Prometheus
You Will Be in Awe at How Detailed This Art Truly Is
Parth Kothekar's unique talent is represented in the beautifully intricate pieces of paper art she creates.
These Dancers & Acrobats Put On an Incredible Show
These two dancers slash acrobats are beyond amazing...
What May Seem Like Ordinary Paper Is Much More to This Man
Take a look at Ken's breathtaking work which features jellyfish, nautilus and flowers:
The Beauty of Mary Cassatt's Impressionist Paintings...
American painter Mary Cassatt beautifully captured the inner lives of French women in the 19th century.