The Communal Administration of Ancona (a port city located on the Adriatic coast of Italy, in the Marche region) has had its centuries'-old Mole Vanvitelliana spruced-up and refurbished as an exhibition venue. Great idea for many reasons: the ex-quarantine hospital is huge, historic and sturdy, and should prove itself as a major tourism draw (heaven only knows, you can't visit too many art museums in Italy). In order to start publicity off with a bang, organizers could have done far, far worse than to display a few usually-hidden-from-view works by Leonardo in Leonardo. Genio e Visione in terra Marchigiana.

Worthy of note:

• Many wonderful things appear, as if by magic, from private collections in Switzerland, don't they?
• The paintings displayed have recently been attributed to Leonardo and a student of his named Giampietrino, jointly. (Previously, only Giampietrino received credit.)
• I have little Italian, but the title seems to be honoring Leonardo with both "genius" and "vision." (Giampietrino - well, he's not mentioned, is he?)
• This makes the third version of Virgin of the Rocks (that we know of) from Leonardo. No one in this version seems to be making threatening gestures towards the infant Christ, but hold on to your hats - someone will surely point this out.
• Leonardo, apparently, knew the difference between male and female anatomy, if bare breasts are any indication.
• Mary Magdalene, here seen portraying herself in Mary Magdalene, is not dining with Jesus.

The exhibition is on display from October 15, 2005 to January 8, 2006.