Davinci and Michelangelo by Ralph Steadman
Picture taken on Field Trip
Closer Image
Im a huge History nerd, so of course my first reaction while seeing this masterpiece created by Ralph Steadman was to die laughing. It reminded me this amazing comic book called “Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo Davinci” illustrated by y Chaz Truog and Rafael Kayanan. On the comic book, it is speculated that there was a possible homosexual relationship between Leonardo and Salai, whom is Leo’s favorite model. Salai is clearly depicted to have had homosexual relations with Leonardo’s main rival, Michelangelo and Ludovico Sforza’s captain, Sanseverino. It is clear, however, that Leonardo used him as a model for his artwork. The relationship between Salai and Leonardo is often toxic, in the end showing Salai betraying Leonardo by serving as the model for Michelangelo’s David. In 1503, Leonardo and Michelangelo where given the opportunity by the Florence government to paint two large paintings on opposite walls of each other in the Sala del Maggior Consiglio (The Great Council Hall) in Palazzio Vecchio, however neither of those paintings have survived all the ages to see them in person, and some people speculate it was because both of them where trying so hard to outdone each other out that in the end both of them did horrible low quality jobs. However, I really love the idea that Ralph Steadman created, speculating that the paintings where not done on their full potential since davinci and Michelangelo where too buzy throwing paint at each other. It’s a lighter concept than the Comic book love story in “Chiaroscuro”, and besides the illustration is simply fantastic, being as simple as sketchy art with a little bit of watercolor and pencil lines, it still shows enough details and information for the viewer to understand what could of possible went down on The Great Council Hall, based on artist Steadman perspective.
*I apologize for not taking a selfie for the field trip, I completely forgot looking at the amazing illustrations of Steadman
