Madonna of the Yarnwinder
Encyclopedia
The Madonna of the Yarnwinder (Madonna dei Fusi; c. 1501) is the subject of several oil paintings, but the original version by Leonardo da Vinci
may now be lost. The composition shows Virgin Mary with the Christ child
, who looks longingly at a yarnwinder
used to collect spun yarn
. The yarnwinder serves as a symbol both of Mary's domesticity and the Cross
on which Christ was crucified, and may also suggest the Fates
, understood in classical mythology as spinners. At least three versions are in private collections, two of them in the United States, including the one previously known as "The Landsdowne Madonna".
The original painting was probably commissioned by Florimund Robertet, the Secretary of State for King Louis XII of France
.
The version of this painting often regarded as the most likely to be by Leonardo is now in the National Gallery of Scotland
in Edinburgh
, on loan from the Duke of Buccleuch. It hung in his home in Drumlanrig Castle
, Dumfries and Galloway
, Scotland
until it was stolen in 2003.
In 2003, it was stolen from the castle by two thieves posing as tourists, who then said "Don't worry love, we're the police. This is just practice" to two tourists from New Zealand, as they exited through a window carrying the Leonardo. The painting was recovered at a lawyer's office in Glasgow
in October 2007 after police officers, from four anti-crime agencies, raided a meeting of five people. A spokesman for the law firm said: "There is absolutely no impropriety whatsoever. There is an interesting, but benign, explanation, but no wrongdoing has been done on their part." Four arrests were made, including two solicitors from different firms. The Scotsman, describing the Glasgow firm as "one of the country's most successful and respected law firms" quoted a source as saying their arrested member "was not involved in any criminal act, but was acting as a go-between for two parties by scrutinizing a contract which would have allowed an English firm to 'secure legal repatriation' of the painting from an unidentified party." John Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch
had died just a month before the recovery, which came as a complete surprise to the family.
Following recovery it has now been loaned to the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh where it has been put back on display.
The significance of the yarnwinder as a motive is that it suggests the classic Three Fates, the sisters Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, who were believed to exercise very serious power over human life from birth to death. They were conceived of as being occupied in spinning a thread of gold, silver or wool, which represented a man's life. Clotho, the youngest, put the fibers around the spindle, Lachesis spun it into thread, and Atropos, the eldest, cut it off when a man had to die.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
may now be lost. The composition shows Virgin Mary with the Christ child
Child Jesus
The Child Jesus represents Jesus from his Nativity to age 12. At 13 he was considered to be adult, in accordance with the Jewish custom of his time, and that of most Christian cultures until recent centuries.The Child Jesus is frequently depicted in art, from around the third or fourth century...
, who looks longingly at a yarnwinder
Niddy noddy
A niddy-noddy is a tool used to make skeins from yarn. It consists of a central bar, with crossbars at each end, offset from each other by 90°. The central bar is generally carved to make it easier to hold. Either one of the crossbars will have a flat edge to allow the skein to slide off, or will...
used to collect spun yarn
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
. The yarnwinder serves as a symbol both of Mary's domesticity and the Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
on which Christ was crucified, and may also suggest the Fates
Moirae
The Moirae, Moerae or Moirai , in Greek mythology, were the white-robed incarnations of destiny . Their number became fixed at three...
, understood in classical mythology as spinners. At least three versions are in private collections, two of them in the United States, including the one previously known as "The Landsdowne Madonna".
The original painting was probably commissioned by Florimund Robertet, the Secretary of State for King Louis XII of France
Louis XII of France
Louis proved to be a popular king. At the end of his reign the crown deficit was no greater than it had been when he succeeded Charles VIII in 1498, despite several expensive military campaigns in Italy. His fiscal reforms of 1504 and 1508 tightened and improved procedures for the collection of taxes...
.
Buccleuch version
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, on loan from the Duke of Buccleuch. It hung in his home in Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle sits on the Queensberry Estate in Scotland's Dumfries and Galloway.The Castle is the Dumfriesshire family home to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry...
, Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
until it was stolen in 2003.
In 2003, it was stolen from the castle by two thieves posing as tourists, who then said "Don't worry love, we're the police. This is just practice" to two tourists from New Zealand, as they exited through a window carrying the Leonardo. The painting was recovered at a lawyer's office in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in October 2007 after police officers, from four anti-crime agencies, raided a meeting of five people. A spokesman for the law firm said: "There is absolutely no impropriety whatsoever. There is an interesting, but benign, explanation, but no wrongdoing has been done on their part." Four arrests were made, including two solicitors from different firms. The Scotsman, describing the Glasgow firm as "one of the country's most successful and respected law firms" quoted a source as saying their arrested member "was not involved in any criminal act, but was acting as a go-between for two parties by scrutinizing a contract which would have allowed an English firm to 'secure legal repatriation' of the painting from an unidentified party." John Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch
John Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch
Portrait taken by [[Allan Warren]]|thumb|right|250pxWalter Francis John Montagu Douglas Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch and 11th Duke of Queensberry, KT, VRD, JP, DL was a Scottish Peer, politician and landowner...
had died just a month before the recovery, which came as a complete surprise to the family.
Following recovery it has now been loaned to the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh where it has been put back on display.
The significance of the yarnwinder as a motive is that it suggests the classic Three Fates, the sisters Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, who were believed to exercise very serious power over human life from birth to death. They were conceived of as being occupied in spinning a thread of gold, silver or wool, which represented a man's life. Clotho, the youngest, put the fibers around the spindle, Lachesis spun it into thread, and Atropos, the eldest, cut it off when a man had to die.