The Leda remained at Fontainebleau till the reign of Louis XIII., when M.Desnoyers, Minister of State, ordered the picture to be destroyed because of its indecency.

Pierre Mariette says that this order was not carried into effect; for the canvas, in a sadly mutilated state, reappeared some seven or eight years before his date of writing, and was seen by him.

In spite of injuries, he could trace the hand of a great master; "and I confess that nothing I had seen from the brush of Michelangelo showed better painting." He adds that it was restored by a second-rate artist and sent to England.

What became of Mini's copy is uncertain.

We possess a painting in the Dresden Gallery, a Cartoon in the collection of the Royal Academy of England, and a large oil picture, much injured, in the vaults of the National Gallery.