Buccleuch Madonna with the Yarnwinder Recovered

In a statement released on October 5, 2007, Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch confirmed that his family's version of Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna with the Yarnwinder (ca. 1501-07) had been recovered by authorities on the previous day. Police interrupted a meeting by raiding the central Glasgow offices of a top insolvency lawyer (feel free to insert ironic, sarcastic comment here), and four arrests were made.

The oil on panel had been missing for slightly over four years after it was seized, in broad daylight, from Drumlanrig Castle by four thieves, two of whom were posing as tourists, on August 27, 2003. The happy recovery news is tainted with sadness, coming, as it has, only a month after the death of John Scott (1923-2007), 9th Duke of Buccleuch, who yearned until his end to learn the fate of this favorite painting. The family had owned and privately viewed it for over 200 years when the 9th Duke instigated putting the (attributed) Leonardo on public display in the early 1970s.

The original Madonna with the Yarnwinder was painted by Leonardo during that which we refer to as his Second Florentine period (1500 to mid-1508), an 8 1/2-year stint spent nominally in 'hometown' Florence (he often traveled) between stays in Milan. He occupied much of this time teaching apprentices, studying geometry and working on architectural and cartographic projects, and -- as was usual with this polymath -- very little of it painting. Oddly enough, he'd gone back to Florence with optimistic thoughts of securing a small fortune in painting commissions. The already-famous Leonardo probably could have done so, too, but for his habitual multi-tasking. Contemporary letters indicate that he did manage to complete the original Madonna... panel for Florimond Robertet (1459-1527), secretary at that time to the French king Louis XII (r. 1498–1515).

The original panel is long lost. However, it was copied numerous times in Leonardo's Florentine workshop by the aforementioned apprentices. The Buccleuch copy is particularly fine, though, and recent scientific examination revealed that the underdrawing and a proportion of the actual painting were of Leonardo's own hand. Hence the attribution and astronomical valuation of at least £30m. After a thorough examination and any subsequent restoration/conservation measures are taken, look for the Buccleuch Madonna with the Yarnwinder to go back on public display at Drumlanrig Castle. The 9th Duke would be most pleased.

Image credit:

Workshop of, and partially attributed to
Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452-1519)
Madonna with the Yarnwinder, ca. 1501-07
Oil on panel
48.3 x 36.9 cm
© Collection Duke of Buccleuch & Queensbury
Photograph provided by Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary