TheOldMastersPrintsBenois Madonna by Leonardo da Vinci: meaning, location and key facts
Benois Madonna is an oil on panel transferred to canvas by Leonardo da Vinci, painted between about 1478 and 1480. It measures 49.5 × 33 cm and is held at the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg.
Key facts
| Artist | Leonardo da Vinci |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1478–1480 |
| Medium | Oil on panel transferred to canvas |
| Dimensions | 49.5 × 33 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg |
| Style | Renaissance |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q1142058) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
A very young, smiling Virgin plays with the Christ Child, who studies a small four-petalled flower of the crucifer family, an allusion to the Crucifixion. In the background, a window opens onto the sky.
It is an early work by Leonardo, from around 1478-1480, when he was about 26. Unlike the solemn Madonnas of his time, it shows a young mother in an everyday gesture.
Did you know?
- It is named after the Benois family of Saint Petersburg, who sold it to the Hermitage in 1914.
- It was originally painted on panel and transferred to canvas in the 19th century.
- It measures only 49.5 × 33 cm.
Where to see the original
Benois Madonna is at the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
| A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) | above the sofa or as a living-room centrepiece |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Benois Madonna?
- The original is held at the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg.
- How big is Benois Madonna?
- The original painting measures 49.5 × 33 cm (height × width).
- Who painted Benois Madonna and when?
- It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci between about 1478 and 1480.
- Can I hang a reproduction of Benois Madonna at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2, A1 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €64.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
