- Title: Art experts examine nude sketch as possible basis for "Mona Lisa"
- Date: 29th September 2017
- Summary: CHANTILLY, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 29, 2017) (REUTERS) CHANTILLY CASTLE STATUE REPRESENTING HUNTING DOGS STATUE WITH CASTLE IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF CHANTILLY MUSEUM CURATOR, MATHIEU DELDICQUE WALKING IN MAIN PAINTING GALLERY IN CASTLE VISITOR TAKING PICTURE GALLERY VISITORS IN GALLERY DELDICQUE IN GALLERY VISITORS IN GALLERY (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHANTILLY MUSEUM CURATOR, MATHIE
- Embargoed: 13th October 2017 17:17
- Keywords: Mona Lisa Joconde Art drawing portrait Leonardo Da Vinci
- Location: CHANTILLY AND PARIS, FRANCE / UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- City: CHANTILLY AND PARIS, FRANCE / UNKNOWN LOCATIONS
- Country: France
- Topics: Art,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Human Interest / Brights / Odd News
- Reuters ID: LVA00170NH9AX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A French art expert believes a charcoal drawing kept in a collection for more than 150 years may be a preparatory sketch made by Leonardo da Vinci of the Mona Lisa.
The black-and-white drawing of a woman nude from the waist up, known as the Monna Vanna, was previously attributed to Leonardo's studio, suggesting it was done in his style by a pupil or follower, not by the master himself.
But after preliminary tests at the Louvre Museum, experts believe the sketch may well have been drawn by Leonardo himself.
Among the signs, according to curator Mathieu Deldicque, are the fact the drawing was made during the same period as the Mona Lisa, the paper is from the same region of Italy, and the technique is very similar to that of the Mona Lisa.
Leonardo, who lived from 1452 to 1519, was an engineer, scientist, inventor and sculptor, as well as one of the finest artists of the Italian Renaissance.
He painted the Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda and regarded as the world's most valuable artwork, at the beginning of the 16th century. It is believed to depict Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a successful merchant.
The charcoal portrait, in which the woman is holding a similar pose to the Mona Lisa but with her body more side-on and her heard turned further over her left shoulder, has been held in a collection at the Conde Museum at the Palace of Chantilly, north of Paris, since 1862.
The Mona Lisa and Monna Vanna hold their hands in very similar ways, the right hand across the left and resting on the forearm, the fingers gently extended.
Deldicque said that while it was exciting to think the charcoal drawing was created by Leonardo, there were more tests to be done. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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