The Madonna of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci

The Confraternity was not satisfied with the delivered work. The size of John the Baptist, his position next to Mary and the placement of Jesus made it too easy to confuse the two children. The painting was therefore rejected and never installed in the chapel as planned.

Leonardo would take more than twenty years to oversee a second version, painted by Ambrogio de Predis between 1495 and 1508. This second canvas, on display at the National Gallery in London, makes the identities clearer: a halo over Jesus, a cross in John's hands, and Uriel's pointing gesture removed. It is this version that ultimately took its place in the Milanese chapel. 

Because the original work had been turned down by its sponsors, Louis XII was able to acquire it between 1500 and 1503, bringing the painting into the French royal collections. Today, it occupies room 5 on the first floor of the Denon wing — a favored stop for visitors retracing Leonardo's path through the museum.

Where to find it: Denon wing, 1st floor, room 5.

Extime Travel tip: pair the visit with the Mona Lisa, just a few rooms away, for a focused Leonardo route.