Read Leonardo's Lost Princess Online
Authors: Peter Silverman
La Bella Principessa
. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
La Bella Principessa
shown in thirteen multispectral images, plus reconstructed scans in false color and infrared daylight. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
A close-up of the eye, which reveals Leonardo’s signature technique. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
The enlargement allows a clear view of Leonardo’s typical left-handed hatching around the profile and in the background. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Pascal Cotte’s measurement of the head and face shows Leonardo’s impeccable specifications. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Leonardo’s typical pentiments are shown in
La Bella
Principessa
. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Leonardo’s intricate knot patterns are in evidence on the image of
La Bella Principessa
. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Detail of the pentiments behind the sitter’s head, showing areas of the artist’s erasures—typical of Leonardo. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Close-up of a portion of the hair and headdress, showing the intricate detail. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Location of Leonardo’s fingerprint. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Pascal Cotte found numerous comparisons between Leonardo’s
Lady with an Ermine
and
La Bella Principessa
. In particular, he noted remarkable similarities in the anatomical structure of the eyes. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Pascal Cotte (left) prepares to use his revolutionary multispectral imaging camera to photograph the
Mona Lisa
in a private room in the basement of the Louvre. PHOTO BY PERMISSION OF LUMIERE TECHNOLOGY.
Pascal and Martin examine the place in the
Sforziada
showing the missing page and the protruding remnant and find a match for
La Bella Principessa
. photo by permission of lumiere technology and martin kemp.