Sophie Arie in Rome
Wednesday February 16, 2005
The Guardian
Adoration of the Christ Child by Leonardo da Vinci. Photo: AP/Italian Superintendence of Roman Museums
Art historians had always detected the style of Leonardo da Vinci in the mysterious painting Adoration of the Christ Child, which is regarded as a gem of the Renaissance.
But there was never any proof. Now a fingerprint discovered in the original paint may finally solve the puzzle.
Experts at Rome's Galleria Borghese, where the painting, widely known as the Tondo (Round), is housed, discovered the print after removing layers of varnish from the 500-year-old circular painting during restoration work last year.
"It didn't exactly jump out at first. I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't been using my microscope," said a restorer, Elizabetta Zatti. "But when I had cleaned down to the original paint, I noticed a slightly yellow patch in the top left part of the sky, right near the edge."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1415336,00.html