The National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DN

Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the court of Milan is the largest collection of the legendary painter’s work to be held in one place and runs until the fifth of February next year. The exhibition contains 9 of Da Vinci’s 16 known paintings from around 1482 – 1499 where he was court artist to the city’s ruler Ludovico Sforza and has already caused a frenzy between art lovers and enthusiasts alike. The pre-sale tickets have already sold out for all the dates and the only other option is to wait in a que of about 3 hours or buy re-sold tickets which is strictly frowned upon by the National Galleries and their terms and conditions. Nevertheless, many are making quite a profit, with sales online of up £600 pounds for a pair on eBay – keeping in mind that the regular price of a ticket is 16 pounds (£8 for students).

The National Gallery has stated that tickets that have been resold will not be accepted or refunded and stop immediately the re-selling by companies and websites.
Works on display include ‘La Belle Ferronière’ – (Louvre, Paris), the ‘Madonna Litta’ (Hermitage, Saint Petersburg) and ‘Saint Jerome’ (Vatican Museum, Rome) and the famous ‘Last Supper’ on loan from the Royal Academy.
Leonardo’s work carries large enigmas and hidden symbols which are hidden in his paintings of the ideals of beauty, mysterious subjects, and religious representations. Therefore the exhibition is most enjoyable to witness after taking in at least some knowledge of the paintings beforehand. Then you will know where to look for the hidden clues and interpretations by different art historians and scholars and the story behind the work which will open up work to you on a different level.

The National Gallery has issued tips on how to enjoy the exhibition best on the website. It includes planning your visit by timed ticket entry and entrance guidance in order to avoid confusion amidst the hustle and bustle, the available exhibition guide (which can be downloaded online in PDF format), and an audio guide which traces the development of Leonardo’s work over the 18 years, including insights and extra information which can be bought at concessionary rate of £3.50.
If you want to have enjoy the whole experience with a nice lunch/dinner, then the National Cafe offers an authentic Milanese menu to celebrate “all things Leonardo”, which runs until the end of the exhibition. The cafe includes a set menu of 2 courses for £19.50 of various delicious dishes, as well as a la carte features. By going online you can book a table to ensure a seat, which you’ll probably want to do after waiting in queue for hours for the exhibit. But after all what’s a better reason to wait stand in line than to see one of the world’s greatest and most occult painters known in history?