Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci

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Format
  
Limited series

Number of issues
  
10

Publisher
  
Vertigo

Publication date
  
1995-1996

Penciller(s)
  
Chaz Truog

Inker
  
Rafael Kayanan

Main character(s)
  
Leonardo da Vinci, Salai

Writer(s)
  
Pat McGreal & David Rawson

Similar
  
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Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci is a Vertigo comic book limited series published from 1995 to 1996, which was later repackaged in 2005 as a single volume. The series was written by Pat McGreal and David Rawson and illustrated by Chaz Truog and Rafael Kayanan. The original series covers were done by Stephen John Philips and Richard Bruning.

Contents

Plot

A work of historical fiction, Chiaroscuro narrates the life of Leonardo da Vinci from the point of view of Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno (almost exclusively called Salai in the story), a beautiful young man Leonardo adopted as a boy. It shows the influence of their relationship on Leonardo's life and work. In characterizing Salai as scheming, ambitious and selfish, the novel posits that several events in Leonardos's life occurred at least partly because of his manipulations.

The work also speculates a possible homosexual relationship between Leonardo and Salai. Salai is clearly depicted to have had homosexual relations with Leonardo's main rival, Michelangelo and Ludovico Sforza's captain, Sanseverino, while anything occurring between him and Leonardo is simply implied. It is clear, however, that Leonardo used him as a model for his artwork. The relationship between Salai and Leonardo is often tumultuous, culminating with Salai betraying Leonardo by serving as the model for Michelangelo's David.

Chiaroscuro is an art term meaning the play of light and dark in a work.

Inspiration

Chaz Truog's official website mentions that Chiaroscuro was inspired by Amadeus and Immortal Beloved.

Works of art

The following works by da Vinci were also depicted in the story:

  • Mona Lisa
  • The Last Supper
  • St John the Baptist
  • Vitruvian Man
  • The Battle of Anghiari
  • several vignettes and images from his notebooks, diaries and sketches
  • Publication history

    Chiarocuro was originally published in serial form from 1995 to 1996 before being collected as a trade paperback in 2005. It was nominated for the Eisner Award in 1996 for Best Limited Series.

    Collected editions

  • Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci (trade paperback collects issues 1-10, October 2005, ISBN 1-4012-0498-8)
  • References

    Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci Wikipedia