A new Mona Lisa discovered in Florence
Florence, June 15, 2011
At the Hotel La Gioconda, located in the historic center of Florence, has been presented to a public audience the discovery of a second Mona Lisa, perhaps performed by Bernardino Luini.
This "brand new" version of the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci has been brought to light by Professor Allessandro Vezzosi, director of the Museo Ideale Leonardo da Vinci.
The paintings, still of uncertain attribution, was exhibited during the event held at the Hotel La Gioconda in Florence, where in 1911 was hidden the real "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci after being stolen from the Louvre.
The date of the event is not random: June 15 is the anniversary of the birth of Lisa Gherardini (born June 15, 1479) which, according to Vasari, is the woman depicted in Leonardo's famous painting. In addition, 2011 marks the centenary of the theft of the Leonardo da Vinci's painting, then recovered in Florence in 1913.
The new Mona Lisa presented during the event, painted in oil on fine canvas and then mounted on wood, is probably the work of an unknown follower of Leonardo da Vinci and will be examined and studied by the same Vezzosi to try to clarify its origins. The picture is stored in an Italian private collection and was discovered by Art Frascione antique gallery located in Via Maggio in Florence.
Of course, the discovery has attracted attention and curiosity. Among the many questions, one wonders if this may have been painted by a famous pupil of Leonardo da Vinci as Salai. Prof. Vezzosi has so far been able to express only one certainty: "it is not the work of Leonardo da Vinci, all the rest we can find out only by further study".
Source: AGI - 15/06/2011
