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May 30, 2006
No, Signor da Vinci. Nessun elefanti, nessun cavalieri.
SKETCHES hidden beneath one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous works have been revealed to the public for the first time after scientists discovered the provocative images under a thick layer of paint.
New findings by Maurizio Seracini (who even pops up in that Dan Brown novel, the only real person) using multispecrum imaging reveal that the underdrawing of the 'Adoration of the Magi', whilst mostly reproduced in the overpainting, omited certain aspects. Like the knights fighting, the corpses, workers rebuilding a temple and an elephant.
The imaging of the original design revealed that were deliberately obscured and the monochromatic paining was carried out by an anonymous, minor artist some twenty years after Leonardo had abandoned the preparatory work.
Da Vinci was commissioned to do the Renaissance work by a monks in Scopeto, in 1481, and historians agree the monks were probably shocked when they saw the work.
I suppose a battle raging just over the Madonna's head is a little unusual.
Scrawled illegibly by Meathe at May 30, 2006 01:20 PM
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