In Pictures: Louvre exhibit celebrates Mona Lisa and its creator Da Vinci, 500 years after his death

SUMMARY

An exhibit at the Louvre, opening on Thursday and marking the 500th anniversary of the Italian master's death, tries to sketch out as complete a picture of the artist and thinker as possible. Drawing from the Louvre's permanent collection and institutions around the world, the exhibit brings together some 160 works. They include Da Vinci masterpieces, dozens of studies and scientific sketches, and pieces by other artists in Da Vinci's orbit. Visitors can also experience a virtual reality portion of the exhibit that delves into the story behind the "Mona Lisa."

By APOct 22, 2019 2:45:43 PM IST (Published)

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci displayed at the Louvre museum in Paris. A unique group of artworks is displayed at the Louvre museum in addition to its collection of paintings and drawings by the Italian master. The exhibition opens to the public on October 24. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

A journalist experiences the virtual reality performance during the visit of Leonardo da Vinci exhibition at the Louvre museum. The new exhibit at the Louvre, marking the 500th anniversary of the Italian master's death, tries to sketch out as complete a picture of the artist and thinker as possible. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Leonardo da Vinci during a visit to the Louvre museum. Drawing from the Louvre's permanent collection and institutions around the world, the exhibit brings together some 160 works.(AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

A journalist studies Saint Jean Baptiste artwork by Leonardo da Vinci during a visit to the Louvre museum. The exhibits include Da Vinci masterpieces, dozens of studies and scientific sketches, and pieces by other artists in Da Vinci's orbit. Visitors can also experience a virtual reality portion of the exhibit that delves into the story behind the "Mona Lisa." (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

Journalists gather near a Mona Lisa image by Leonardo da Vinci during a visit at the Louvre museum. Visitors must reserve tickets online in advance, and the Louvre said it has already pre-sold 220,000 tickets as of Monday morning. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

More than 10 years in the making, the project began when Louis Frank, the exhibit's other curator, translated a Renaissance-era Da Vinci biography to round out existing knowledge about the painter's life. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

The biographical emphasis is evident in the exhibit's design, which traces the artist's trajectory from his apprenticeship with Florentine sculptor Andrea del Verocchio to his death in France in 1519. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

"The Euclidean demonstration of the Pythagorean theorem" by Leonardo da Vinci displayed at the Louvre museum. Several of Da Vinci's completed paintings will be on display, including "La Belle Ferronniere" and "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne." The "Mona Lisa" will remain in its case, upstairs. Visitors will be able to see "Portrait of a Musician" on loan from the Vatican and "Benois Madonna" from St. Petersburg, among other works the Louvre borrowed for the occasion. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)

The "Vitruvian Man," Da Vinci's famous drawing of the ideally proportioned male figure, arrived in France from Venice's Accademia Gallery only days before the exhibit's opening. Italian heritage group Our Italy tried to block the loan, saying the drawing was too fragile to be moved. An Italian court originally suspended the loan before ruling last week that it could travel to France for eight weeks. In exchange, the Louvre will lend several works by Raphael to Rome next year. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh)