Girl with a Pearl Earring
Lee’s version of Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece.
Painted in just a few days, Lee explored a different style of painting.
A new piece…
Drawing stage
Early stage’s…
These early images show Lee’s initial start process. For this piece, Lee has chosen a white gesso ground.
A burnt umber glaze softens the drawing.
Naples yellow is applied using a scumbling technique to create light tones.
Salvator Mundi
Salvator Mundi
(Saviour of the World)
The lost masterpiece attributed to the renaissance master Leonardo Da Vinci.
Discovered in a general auction in Louisiana in 2005 and bought for $10,000 by a consortium of art dealers that included Robert Simon and Alexander Parrish.
They commissioned international renowned conservator Diane Dwyer Modestini to oversee the restoration. It was during the cleaning process that all the over paint was removed, and the original 500 year old paint was revealed. Although heavily damaged the studio quality was visible.
There were also pentimento “regrets or change of mind” the change in composition would suggest that it could be the original and not a copy.
Lee’s version has tried to capture the original quality of the under painting which he believes was lost during the restoration.
In 2017 “Salvator Mundi” authenticated as Leonardo Da Vinci was sold at Christie’s New York for a record breaking $400.
A new start…
First layers
Lee started this piece during lockdown 2020. This image shows the early composition drawn in pencil, after which a burnt umber wash is applied to soften the tone.
The translucent layers of oil paint (glazing) will now be applied. This painstaking process can take many weeks (sometimes months).
Below are a series of images showing the painting progress.
During the painting’s development Lee had a change of mind. Originally a cloth wrap was in place, ideas change and the overall narrative of the piece led Lee to paint in a string of Ivy.
Warrington Guardian…
Warrington artist Lee Trantum
It’s an old(ish) piece, but Lee’s fabulous Leonardo da Vinci artwork has made the pages of his hometown paper.
Read the Warrington Guardian article here.
Lee said: “I was thrilled to see my artwork in the Warrington Guardian, it’s my local paper and has always been supportive of my work.”
