![Leonardo da Vinci — Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse]](https://cdn.wall-art-frame.com/thumbnails/800/d41fc217-9591-460b-baa8-38b446c77ff4_800.webp)
Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse]
c. 1474-1478 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This tempera painting is the reverse side of the portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, depicting an intricate wreath of laurel, palm, and juniper surrounding a scroll. The Latin inscription 'Virtutem Forma Decorat' translates to 'Beauty adorns virtue'.
Did you know?
This emblem was created as the reverse side of Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of Ginevra de' Benci, commissioned when she was a young woman in Florence. The combination of the laurel (symbolizing virtue) and the palm (symbolizing intellectual achievement) creates a complex visual metaphor that equates Ginevra's physical beauty with her moral character. It remains one of the few instances where Leonardo utilized this specific style of allegorical heraldry on the back of a portrait panel.
![Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse]](https://cdn.wall-art-frame.com/thumbnails/300/d41fc217-9591-460b-baa8-38b446c77ff4_300.webp)
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Wreath of Laurel, Palm, and Juniper with a Scroll inscribed Virtutem Forma Decorat [reverse]
Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1474-1478
