Leonardo’s Self-Portrait
Few know that underground, in the centre of Torino... there is a treasure!
It is none other than the very famous Self-portrait in sanguine - made with hematite - by Leonardo da Vinci. Why in Torino? Simply because it is kept here, in an air-conditioned caveau of the Royal Library: the precious treasure, which was created in 1515, after several events, was finally purchased in 1839 by Charles Albert of Savoy.
From Saturday, March 8, 2025, the Royal Museums will be enriched with a new permanent exhibition section on the second floor of the Sabauda Gallery. A Space for Leonardo / Leonardo for Space is an innovative multimedia display to tell the story of Leonardo da Vinci's collection of drawings preserved in the Royal Library, which, for reasons of protection, cannot be exhibited continuously. Spazio Leonardo will allow an original drawing from the Royal Library's precious collection to be presented on a rotating basis within an air-conditioned, armored showcase inside the casket.