Leonardo da Vinci’s The Madonna of the Carnation captures a tender moment between mother and child (the baby Jesus) but look a little closer and you will see a forewarning – the crimson carnation in Madonna’s hands symbolises the blood that Christ would later spill on the cross. Measuring just 62 x 48 cm, the artwork encapsulates several techniques that bring unity to the composition and demonstrate Da Vinci’s masterful use of paint.