Documentary on Sky Arte Investigates Possible Leonardo Self-Portrait
A documentary titled 'Leonardo ‒ Il ritratto ritrovato' airing on Sky Arte on Tuesday, January 1, explores a painting discovered in 2008 in an ancient aristocratic palace in Salerno. The oil portrait of a bearded man in a hat bears a striking resemblance to known images of Leonardo da Vinci. Investigations by Italian universities, research centers, and the Scientific Investigations Department (RIS) of the Carabinieri revealed that the painting shares the same fingerprint found on Leonardo's 'Lady with an Ermine.' Techniques such as wood panel analysis, pigment analysis, radiometric dating, and graphology were used to determine if the subject is Leonardo himself. The work is referred to as the 'Lucano Self-Portrait.'
Key facts
- Documentary 'Leonardo ‒ Il ritratto ritrovato' airs on Sky Arte on Tuesday, January 1.
- The painting was discovered in 2008 in an ancient aristocratic palace in Salerno.
- The oil portrait depicts a bearded man in a hat resembling Leonardo da Vinci.
- The same fingerprint found on 'Lady with an Ermine' was detected on the painting.
- Investigations involved Italian universities, research centers, and the RIS of the Carabinieri.
- Techniques included wood panel analysis, pigment analysis, radiometric dating, and graphology.
- The painting is called the 'Lucano Self-Portrait.'
- The documentary describes the phases of the investigation.
Entities
Artists
- Leonardo da Vinci
Institutions
- Sky Arte
- Artribune
- Reparto Investigazioni Scientifiche (RIS) dell’Arma dei Carabinieri
Locations
- Salerno
- Italy