in the benois madonna and the portrait of cecilia gallerani the slight, haunting smile can be seen.nd of course in the mona lisa and the john the baptist. the influence of verrocchio on leonardo is very powerful but as leonardo himself wrote, "the disciple who does not surpass his master fails his master." between 1476 and 1477, leonardo left verrocchio's workshop. he notes on one of his drawings in 1478 that he has begun work on two paintings of the virgin mary. the one that has come down to us hangs today in the hermitage in leningrad. this painting is known as the benois madonna and although it is unfinished, like so much of leonardo's work, the 26-year-old master created a touching and original version of an eternal theme. the infant christ stretches up his hand for the flower offered him by the youthful madonna, and the three hands form the center of the composition as they come together. this portrait of ginevra de'benci, which was done during this period is a superb example of leonardo's art of expression. this treasure is exhibited today at the national gallery of art in was

in the benois madonna and the portrait of cecilia gallerani, the slight, haunting smile can be seen.and of course in the mona lisa and the john the baptist. the influence of verrocchio on leonardo is very powerful, but as leonardo himself wrote, "the disciple who does not surpass his master fails his master." between 1476 and 1477, leonardo left verrocchio's workshop. he notes on one of his drawings in 1478 that he has beguwork on two paintings of the virgin mary. the one that has come down to us hangs today in the hermitage in leningrad. this painting is known as the benois madonna, and although it is unfinished, like so much of leonardo's work, the 26-year-old master created a touching and original version of an eternal theme. the infant christ stretches up his hand for the flower offered him by the youthful madonna, and the three hands form the center of the composition as they come together. this portrait of ginevra de'benci, which was done during this period, is a superb example of leonardo's art of expression. this treasure is exhibited today at the national gallery of art in w