Italy stops Da Vinci's 'Vitruvian Man' Drawing from being loaned

An Italian court on October 16, refused a last-minute deal to halt the loan of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic 'Vitruvian Man' drawing and other works to France's Louvre museum. In the previous week, the court suspended the loan of the world-famous artwork due to an appearance later this month in an exhibition at the Paris museum to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the artist's death.
The court suspended after the group Italia Nostra (Our Italy) lodged a complaint stating the artwork was too delicate to travel. According to the reports, the drawing is insured for at least one billion euros. The court in Venice said the paintings have global recognition and overturned the bid to stop the loan of several Da Vinci works.

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The Vitruvian Man is kept in a climate-controlled vault 

The Vitruvian Man is kept in a climate-controlled vault in the American Gallery in Venice and is rarely showcased to the public. According to Roman architect Vitruvius, the 35 by 25-centimetre drawing depicts the proportions of the human body. In the artwork, a man is shown with his legs apart and together in two superimposed images first within a square and then within a circle in a very unique combination. The court had ordered a halt to an accord that was signed in September in Paris between Italy's culture minister and the Louvre museum. Italy is sending various Leonardo works to the Louvre for a major exhibition that will commence from next week. In return, the paintings and drawings by the Italian artist Raphael are to be loaned to Italy for an exhibition in the Italian capital in March.

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Italia Nostra said its motives were not political

The loan was already questioned by Italy's former right-wing government, which criticized the idea of lending Da Vinci works to France. With less than 20 Leonardo sketches still in presence, numerous Italians are angry that the Louver has five of them, as well as 22 drawings. Italia Nostra said its motives were not political but aimed at protecting the national interest. They said that the Vitruvian Man suffered tearing and those who had decided it to travel had not removed it from its case to examine it properly.

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