With the passing of centuries Leonardo da Vinci (born ~Florence, 1452-1519) has lost none of his fascination as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, a period when art was considered to have reached the peak of its perfection. `Ginevra Benci' (1474/76, oil on canvas 42*37cm) is the first distinct personality to appear in Leonardo's paintings. By studying Da Vinci's work you can see that he has a unique blend of techniques, media, messages, symbolism, composition and themes, thus making his work exceptional in relation to that of his peers. This particular painting is evidence of Leonardo's natural flair for art.

Despite its beauty, the portrait gives a rather uneasy, top- heavy impression. This is explained by the fact that a substantial piece has been cut away from the bottom of the panel, altering the proportions of the painting and removing the humanizing presence of hands being a...