A masterpiece of genius by Leonardo da Vinci, one of his final works, will be on display at the Louvre Abu Dhabi as part of the museum’s fifth anniversary festivities.
The laughing saint was wheeled out of the Grande Gallery, where other Renaissance masterpieces, including three other Leonardo paintings, are hung, after workers carefully unlatched the two cables from which the artwork was suspended.
The painting will be shown for two years in the permanent galleries of the Louvre Abu Dhabi thanks to a loan from the Louvre Museum in Paris. Starting on November 8, four days after the museum’s anniversary, it will be on display.
Rebate claims that Saint John the Baptist is one of Leonardo’s most famous works, however it isn’t the first piece to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The Louvre gave its Abu Dhabi sibling Portrait of an Unknown Woman, better known as La Belle Ferronniere, by the Tuscan master to commemorate its launch in 2017. For two years, the painting was on exhibit in the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
“The arrival of this renowned masterpiece from Musee du Louvre illustrates the unique and profound character of our long-term relationship,” says Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Louvre Abu Dhabi. Visitors to the Louvre Abu Dhabi cannot miss the chance to interact with a beautiful work of art that depicts an exceptional historical period and today symbolizes a significant chapter in our own grand story.
“Next month, as we commemorate the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, we should also consider how this renowned institution is leading the way in the development of the Saadiyat Cultural District by fostering global connections via the universal languages of history, culture, and the arts.
According to Laurence des Cars, president and director of the Louvre Museum, “Louvre Abu Dhabi is a unique achievement and a remarkable success in the museum world.” This museum has captured the attention of an ever-expanding public for five years. It is the product of an unparalleled partnership between the United Arab Emirates and France.
