Rare Leonardo Da Vinci’s Horse & Rider Sculpture Unveiled In Beverly Hills

Rare Leonardo Da Vinci’s Horse & Rider Sculpture Unveiled In Beverly Hills

by Rob Taylor

“Hand-carved by the artist more than 500 years ago...the only surviving example of Da Vinci’s sculpture work.” (BBC News)

An unbelievably rare sculpture entirely made of beeswax,  over 500 years old, has been in hiding from the public eye for centuries.  Authenticated to have been hand-crafted by the Renaissance Master himself,  the work of a horse and rider in full military regalia is believed to have been a model for a larger monument of politician and military figure Charles D’Amboise, a friend and patron of Leonardo da Vinci’s. 

So where was this rare and valuable Da Vinci all this time?  Shortly after the artist’s death, the model disappeared from public view, inherited by his trusted apprentice and close friend Francesco Melzi, who became principle heir to Leonardo’s possessions.  When Melzi passed, the beeswax model was auctioned, and has since changed hands, always remaining in private collection. Although it has been preserved remarkably well, all things considered, its survival is not without some weathering.  Time and travel over the centuries took its toll, in addition to the general deterioration of the beeswax.

In 1985 a group of businessmen who were shown the maquette while in Switzerland. With their interests piqued, they enlisted world renowned da Vinci expert Professor Carlo Pedretti.  He endorsed its authenticity, after examining the original mold that had been taken from the beeswax sculpture. In 1987, an opportunity to purchase the mold was presented to an American real estate businessman Richard A. Lewis by his friend Paul Wagner. Lewis accepted the offer to acquire the original mold, dubbed “Horse and Rider,” and its supporting documents which established provenance.

When Lewis Retiremed 25 years later, this casual art enthusiast decided to bring his admired possession out of the closest 25 years later, and onto the public stage by allowing a limited number of reproductions to be produced and sold, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit The Salvation Army of Southern Nevada.  Lewis employed the revered American Fine Arts Foundry to produce 996 castings, 900 in bronze in three patinas, retailing for $25,000 a piece, and 96 in silver for $30,000. 

 

The reproduced sculptures and the original cast were unveiled at a ceremony on August 27, 2012 at the historical Greystone Museum in Beverly Hills. This showing at the Graystone launched, a four city world tour to promote the story and reproductions. 

 

On display for the amazed guests were all four versions of the reproductions, the original cast and mold, and books documenting “Horse and Rider”  including a limited edition (#36 to be exact, owned by Rod Maly of Art Encounter) of The Queen’s Collection which officially catalogued the masterpiece in 1987. 

 

Following the tour, these rare pieces will be on display in a special exhibition at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.

 

Photos from the unveiling are shown below.