Madonna of the Yarnwinder

The Madonna of the Yarnwinder is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci that was stolen from the Duke of Buccleuch of Scotland in 2003. It was recovered by police on October 4, 2007.

Fast Facts

1. A £1 million reward was offered for its safe return¹
2. Valued at approximately £30 million
3. Owned by the Buccleuch family for over 250 years
4. Believed to be one of the few surviving da Vinci paintings
5. Created in 1501 for Florimand Robertet, secretary of state to Louis XII of France
6. Purchased by the 3rd Duke of Buccleuch in the 1750s²
7. Da Vinci did not use a palette, but mixed colors using several thin layers of paint³

Quote

"The painting shows the Madonna gently pulling the infant Jesus away from a wooden yarnwinder, shaped like a cross, symbolising that even her love could not save him from the Passion."—The Guardian²

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