Product Details

• Actors: Narrated By Meryl Streep
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Homevision
• VHS Release Date: September 21, 2001
• Run Time: 57 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 0780023412
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,876 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Leonardo da Vinci painted only three portraits of women, and the earliest, a painting of Ginevra de Benci that now hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is the subject of this entertaining documentary narrated by actress Meryl Streep. The story of who Ginevra was and how she came to know the young Leonardo is told as sites from their lives are visited. The painting itself is examined carefully, and experts from the staff of the National Gallery of Art, which produced the video, speak about some of the more peculiar aspects of the painting, including the fact that Leonardo painted the wooden panel containing the painting on both sides. Modern technology is used to analyze the painting, and hidden aspects of it are revealed through the use of x-ray analysis and infrared reflectography. Even the troubled history of the painting is examined. For hundreds of years the painting was missing, and at some point the lower half of Ginevra's portrait was apparently cut away. A computer graphics expert at the National Gallery demonstrates how, using hands sketched by Leonardo, a composite picture can be made showing how the painting of Ginevra may have originally appeared. This is a fascinating look at an enigmatic work of art. --Robert J. McNamara

Product Description

Ginevra de Benci, the first known portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, is both haunting and hypnotic. The magnificent and mysterious work concelas a multitude of secrets. Using x-ray analysis, infrared reflectography, and the power of computer technology, this film delves beneath the surface of the painting to unveil fascinating stories about both Ginevra and Leonardo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, April 12, 2005

By 

reviewer "reviewer" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ginevra's Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Ginevra's story takes us back 500 years to become acquainted with the three women whose portraits Leonardo painted. Ginevra di Benci was the first, Cecilia Gallerani(Lady with an Ermine) the second, and Lisa Gherardini-del Giocondo(Mona Lisa) the last.

The paintings were completed 15 years apart, spanning Leonardo's painting career, and documenting his maturation as an artist and as an individual. Ginevra was painted at the time of her marriage at 16. She was well known as a talented poetess. Her platonic lover, Bernardo Benbo, whose motto "Virtue and Honor" is painted on the back side of the painting, may have commissioned the portrait, as he also commissioned 10 poems to be written for her. She suffered from ill health and she was not able to have children, which may account for her somewhat melancholic expression.

The events in the life of the painting are just as interesting: defaced at some point, the lower portion including Ginevra's hands were removed, stored in a wine cellar through WWII for safe keeping and finally purchased by The National Gallery in Washington for 3 million dollars where it was eventually cleaned.

The video includes narration by Meryl Streep, some valuable input from art historians about the painting and about Leonardo, a computer reconstruction of a before and after for each portrait, and much more. It will leave you wanting to know more about Ginevra and her famous counterparts.