Shades of Grace: The Virgin of the Rocks and Leonardo da Vinci’s Notes on Paragone

This essay analyses Leonardo da Vinci’s innovative iconography in the making of panel known as Virgin Rocks (Paris, Louvre) relation to his considerations on important Renaissance debate Paragone, or comparison among arts, namely, Painting, Sculpture, Music, and Poetry. It will be argued that this work, a depiction complex religious theme, may interpreted laboratory for Paragone-related demonstrations, especially regards five points: optical tangibility image; temporalities involved representation; variety subjects; and, finally, its iconic stability semiotic openness vehicles further stimulate devotional value painting.