NationStates Jolt Archive

Reading about this has gotten me so excited! Supposed new sketches by Da Vinci.

http://news.aol.com/article/sketches-found-on-back-of-da-vinci-work/281336
PARIS (Dec. 18) - A curator at the Louvre museum in Paris has stumbled upon some unknown drawings on the back of a painting by Leonardo da Vinci that look like they might be by the Italian master himself, the Louvre said on Thursday.
The extraordinary find was made by chance, when Louvre staff unhooked Leonardo's "The Virgin and Child with St. Anne" from the museum wall as part of a broad program of study and restoration of paintings by Leonardo, including the "Mona Lisa."
"When the work, which is painted on wood, was unhooked, a curator noticed two barely visible drawings on the back of the painting, showing a horse's head and half a skull," the museum said.
It was such an astonishing discovery that other Louvre staff present at the time could not believe it and initially said the marks on the wood must be stains.
"The Virgin and Child with St. Anne" was painted in the early 1500s and no one had previously noticed the drawings -- at least not to the knowledge of the Louvre .
After the initial find, the museum conducted detailed tests on the back of the painting. Photographs taken with an infrared camera revealed that there were not two but three drawings. The third one is of a child Jesus playing with a lamb.
"This is an exceptional discovery because drawings on the back of paintings are very rare and no example by Leonardo was previously known," the Louvre said.

It would be amazing if these sketches do turn out to be of Da Vinci's authorship. The problem is that the traces are too faint (due to age probably) and that may make it difficult to let experts see if they actually concord with Leonardo's style.

Ohhh exciting.

Ohhh exciting.

To me, it is. I am an art historian.;)

What's so special about this?

What's so special about this?

For starters, they're allegedly made by Leonardo DaVinci, and second, it would throw even more light and understanding on the way the Maestro worked. Besides, it's the first time these sketches have been seen.

To me, it is. I am an art historian.;)

Heh I was not being sarcastic, in case you thought I was.

Heh I was not being sarcastic, in case you thought I was.

Nope, I didn't think you were being sarcastic. I'm merely telling you that, as an art historian, to me, it's an exciting thing.

Nope, I didn't think you were being sarcastic. I'm merely telling you that, as an art historian, to me, it's an exciting thing.

Yes to me also, although I know nowt about art, much to the distress of my more arty friends!:D

Cool, I want to see them if possible.

Cool, I want to see them if possible.

Here you go.
http://chattahbox.com/images/2008/12/da-vinci.jpg

Here you go.
http://chattahbox.com/images/2008/12/da-vinci.jpg

Bit hard to make out at first but it does look like his work to me. But I am not an art historian, just an artist so I could be mistaken.

Bit hard to make out at first but it does look like his work to me. But I am not an art historian, just an artist so I could be mistaken.

To me they look like they are from Leonardo's hand. But the traces are so faint, the experts won't be able to tell right away if the sketches are indeed of DaVinci's authority.

It has the characteristical Leonardo's features, but I'm no expert either.

To me they look like they are from Leonardo's hand. But the traces are so faint, the experts won't be able to tell right away if the sketches are indeed of DaVinci's authority.

It has the characteristical Leonardo's features, but I'm no expert either.

I'm running it through photoshop and messing with the contrast to see if I can get a better look.

I'm running it through photoshop and messing with the contrast to see if I can get a better look.

Cool. Could you post the enhanced, Photoshop images here?

Cool. Could you post the enhanced, Photoshop images here?

Sure thing, I'll even blow it up to 200% and point out where they are.

Sure thing, I'll even blow it up to 200% and point out where they are.

Thanks, mate. :)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8476/davincite5.jpg

I see a fire-spewing sectapus, and.. oh god.

Well, the head to the left definitely looks like Da Vinci's work. Either way though, this would be an amazing find.

I have found the horses head, and the skull. But I can't find the Jesus anywhere.

ooh, sounds exciting.

i think those three drawings each mean something

like maybe the wolf was going to kill the lamb.....or......lupercalia a roman holiday celebrating the she-wolf and the romans killed jesus hmmmmm

i think those three drawings each mean something

like maybe the wolf was going to kill the lamb.....or......lupercalia a roman holiday celebrating the she-wolf and the romans killed jesus hmmmmm

I think it could have been a study for a Jesus painting.
As for the Lupercalia reference, don't the people participating in it need to have the lamb skins attached to their skins, or a bunch of women recieving lashes on their arms from the pieces of lamb skin?

But nope. I don't think it's a referece to the Lupercalia. There's no evidence of artistic reference made in painting of the Lupercalia on da Viinci's time, at least not of the known masters. Shakespeare does references it in his "Julius Caesar".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/SaintB/DaVinci.jpg

The Horse's Head is to the left, the Half Skull is too the right. I sharpened the image and colorized it green so that the black lines of the drawing will stick out better. I still can't find Jesus and the Sheep but I don't have the time to keep searching. Image has been blown up 200% of original size and I circled the two sketches I found.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/SaintB/DaVinci.jpg

The Horse's Head is to the left, the Half Skull is too the right. I sharpened the image and colorized it green so that the black lines of the drawing will stick out better. I still can't find Jesus and the Sheep but I don't have the time to keep searching. Image has been blown up 200% of original size and I circled the two sketches I found.

Wow, B-tan. Thanks for taking the time. I'll keep scanning the sketches on my own to see if I can locate Jesus and the sheep.:)

Wow, B-tan. Thanks for taking the time. I'll keep scanning the sketches on my own to see if I can locate Jesus and the sheep.:)

When you do let me know and I will point it out too.

When you do let me know and I will point it out too.

Gotcha.

For starters, they're allegedly made by Leonardo DaVinci

And if they turn out that they are then what have we gained?

And if they turn out that they are then what have we gained?
Some more sketches of DaVinci, an important artist.

And if they turn out that they are then what have we gained?

More examples of the works of a genius. Maybe it will inspire a few people. Let them rise above the "average and normal" which is glorified so much these days.

And if they turn out that they are then what have we gained?

Adun-kun, do you know who Leanardo da Vinci (http://www.mos.org/leonardo/bio.html) was? I wonder.:confused:

Adun-kun, do you know who Leanardo da Vinci (http://www.mos.org/leonardo/bio.html) was? I wonder.:confused:

Oh, I know who he was, but a couple of sketches? Not that important. I don't really like his art anyway.

Oh, I know who he was, but a couple of sketches? Not that important. I don't really like his art anyway.

That you don't like his work/art does not mean this discovery is less important.

That you don't like his work/art does not mean this discovery is less important.

I love his work, just not his art. Also why is it important that a couple of little scribbles have been found on the back of a drawing?

I love his work, just not his art. Also why is it important that a couple of little scribbles have been found on the back of a drawing?

The importance falls on the fact that these sketches (not scribbles) may very well have been done by the Maestro himself. Leonardo was not only important to the art world but also to the scientific world. And the sketches were found behins on of his most beloved painting, not behind a drawing.

The importance falls on the fact that these sketches (not scribbles) may very well have been done by the Maestro himself. Leonardo was not only important to the art world but also to the scientific world. And the sketches were found behins on of his most beloved painting, not behind a drawing.

Painting/drawing aside, the sketches probably were done by him, but why is this so great. They don't tell us anything more about him, it's just a horse. It's not like it's a masterpiece, or a scientific plan for a machine gun or something.

Painting/drawing aside, the sketches probably were done by him, but why is this so great. They don't tell us anything more about him, it's just a horse. It's not like it's a masterpiece, or a scientific plan for a machine gun or something.

Adunabar, it shows us a bit more of the way the Maestro worked and sketched. The way he planned his paintings, it's perhaps a small insight on the mind of one the great masters of the Renaissance.

Oh, I know who he was, but a couple of sketches? Not that important.
Sketches tell us a lot about the techniques of artists and are, in their own right, works of art. To have more of Da Vinci's is a boon.

A couple of years back, I saw the exhibition of Raphael's work in the National Portrait Gallery. The most exciting stuff to view was his sketches.

Adunabar, it shows us a bit more of the way the Maestro worked and sketched. The way he planned his paintings, it's perhaps a small insight on the mind of the great masters of the Renaiisance.

OK then.

What if it's not by him, by the way?

What if it's not by him, by the way?

Then perhaps it is by one of his students. It still would show the influence of da Vinci on those who studied under him.

Then perhaps it is by one of his students. It still would show the influence of da Vinci on those who studied under him.

Talking of students, did Sali or whatever his name was ever draw anything?

What if it's not by him, by the way?

It is what it is...why does a painting or drawing need to have some inherent value in order for people to look at it & admire it's beauty?

Talking of students, did Sali or whatever his name was ever draw anything?

Dalí. And yes, he did.
Most of the great painters did. It's called a study (estudio) before they decide on what they will finally put to canvas.

I must be blind.

Dalí. And yes, he did.
Most of the great painters did. It's called a study (estudio) before they decide on what they will finally put to canvas.

No, not Dali, I mean Da Vinci's little helper, Sali, Sala, Salli, one of those. Jumped off a roof for him to test an invention.

No, not Dali, I mean Da Vinci's little helper, Sali, Sala, Salli, one of those. Jumped off a roof for him to test an invention.

He probably did. As I told you, sketching and drawing was an integral part (still is) of the process of painting. It's a study and way of deciding what will ultimately be put to canvas.

He probably did. As I told you, sketching and drawing was an integral part (still is) of the process of painting. It's a study and way of deciding what will ultimately be put to canvas.

*Smacks head*

I mean paintings, sorry. Did Sali ever paint anything?

*Smacks head*

I mean paintings, sorry. Did Sali ever paint anything?

Not that I know of. Let me check.