First Knot

c. 1490/1500

after Leonardo da Vinci

Associated Names
Italian 15th Century

Artist

Leonardo da Vinci

Artist After, Florentine, 1452 - 1519

This print displays a circular design with intricate, interwoven geometric patterns. The central motif resembles a labyrinth of woven vines or Celtic knots. At the center lies a scroll-like triangular emblem with the inscription "ACADEMIA LEONARDI VIN." Surrounding the main circle are four smaller knot-like patterns in the four corners of the paper. These designs appear to have been cut out and placed on pale yellow paper.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on laid paper [the 5 parts of the knot are cut out from a single sheet and trimmed to the image]

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    image overall approx: 24.13 × 22.86 cm (9 1/2 × 9 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1961.17.55.a-e

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Hind 'Engravings', Vol. 5, p.94, no. 19

  • Series Title

    The Six "Knots" [Hind 19-24]

Associated Artworks

See all 5 artworks

First Knot [center panel]

Italian 15th Century

1490

First Knot [upper left corner]

Italian 15th Century

1490

First Knot [upper right corner]

Italian 15th Century

1490

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1965

  • Master Prints from the Rosenwald Collection, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, 1965, no. 9.

1973

  • Prints of the Italian Renaissance, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1973, no. 226.

Bibliography

1938

  • Hind, Arthur M. Early Italian Engraving; a critical catalogue with complete reproductions of all the prints described. 7 vols. London: Bernard Quaritch Ltd., 1938-1948.

1973

  • Levenson et al. 1973, no.114.

Wikidata ID

Q65506972

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