What could be more exciting for the art world than to discover a new painting by Leonardo da Vinci? Sold a few years ago for a mere $19,000.00, the new owner had an inkling this painting was not a 19th century German piece as originally thought, but indeed a work by the great Renaissance
master himself. A multispectral infra-red camera in France substantiated that his hypothesis was correct.
master himself. A multispectral infra-red camera in France substantiated that his hypothesis was correct.
A 500 year old fingerprint of da Vinci left on the canvas, matching the fingerprint on another masterpiece was confirmed by French analysts. Not to mention other details such as the fact it was painted by a left-handed artist as Leonardo was known to be. In addition, the English confirmed through carbon-dating that the work was most assuredly authentic.
New York art dealer, Peter Silverman, can be thanked for his arduous journey to prove the new discovery. La Bella Principessa, or The Beautiful Princess, is now thought to be the portrait of Bianca Sforza, daughter of Ludovico Sforza, part of the powerful ruling dynasty in the Milan duchy during the late 15th century and early 16th centuries.
The painting, now worth an estimated $150 million is quite a few pennies profit for Silverman. And who knows, maybe Dan Brown will get an inkling to write a story of intrigue behind another da Vinci work.
Thank you for reading and bonne journee.
