Restored Da Vinci painting reveals hidden details

**Jason** · 07-16-2010, 09:07 AM

LONDON – A restoration project for Leonardo da Vinci's "Virgin of the Rocks" has revealed new details and suggest the Renaissance artist may have painted all the picture himself, instead of with his assistants as previously thought, a British gallery said Wednesday.
The 18-month conservation project involved removing much of some badly degraded varnish that was applied to the painting in the late 1940s, enabling experts to take a much closer look at the picture's brush strokes and styles, the National Gallery said.
The cleaning revealed the painting's full tonal range, especially in the darker areas, and resulted in a clearer sense of how the artist intended for space to recede through the rocky landscape, the gallery said.
It also affirmed that Leonardo likely painted the entire picture himself and intended for it to be unfinished.
The restored painting showed a range of completion from the barely sketched hand of the angel to the fully realized heads of the main figures — consistent with many of Leonardo's works. The Italian artist, said to be the "eternal perfectionist," is thought to have left his pictures unfinished because he wished to return to them later, gallery spokesman Thomas Almeroth-Williams said.

more Restored Da Vinci painting reveals hidden details - Yahoo! News

Ashlar2006 · 07-16-2010, 10:13 AM

Very interesting . I like anything and everything Da Vinci

Disciple · 07-17-2010, 10:30 AM

Maybe he was thinking that he could get more inspiration when he comes back from the other life. If this is the case then Mona Liza is meant not to be finished. Is it?

freeman · 07-19-2010, 10:18 PM

It is unreal how A: people can restore old painting that have been damaged, and B: that they can figure out who painted it based on the details and stroke techniques etc. Fascinating!

GrapeApe · 07-21-2010, 09:56 PM

I wouldn't have a clue what was Da Vinci or not. I like to look at paintings but I've never really studied them to the extent that I would know what is what. It is amazing they can tell who and when they painted it though. I wouldn't want to try restoring one though, I'd destroy it completely!

Custer148 · 07-22-2010, 07:50 AM

Yea so would I, but just think of the money you'd make if you were good at it.

Hard work I'm sure and maybe hard on your body, your eyes, etc.

Bob Franks · 01-03-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Custer148

Yea so would I, but just think of the money you'd make if you were good at it.

Hard work I'm sure and maybe hard on your body, your eyes, etc.

The incredible detail would drive you crazy. I saw "The Last Supper," in 1999, during restoration, and for all the scaffolding and dropcloths and lights, the restorer worked an area of about 2cm square at a time.
...and "The Last Supper" covers a whole wall, 4.5 by 8.7 METERS!

Q: What's the call of the female Italian Restorer Bird?
A: No flash! No flash!

S&F

Winter · 01-03-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashlar2006

Very interesting . I like anything and everything Da Vinci

If you like him so much, then why don't you marry him? LOL

This was a really great article. I took Rennaissance Art History and I loved it! And I got to see some restoration work at the Chicago Art Institute. Absolutely amazing what they are able to do.

07-16-2010, 09:07 AM	#1
Jason Guard Dog 2012 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 3,126 Lodge:	Restored Da Vinci painting reveals hidden details LONDON – A restoration project for Leonardo da Vinci's "Virgin of the Rocks" has revealed new details and suggest the Renaissance artist may have painted all the picture himself, instead of with his assistants as previously thought, a British gallery said Wednesday. The 18-month conservation project involved removing much of some badly degraded varnish that was applied to the painting in the late 1940s, enabling experts to take a much closer look at the picture's brush strokes and styles, the National Gallery said. The cleaning revealed the painting's full tonal range, especially in the darker areas, and resulted in a clearer sense of how the artist intended for space to recede through the rocky landscape, the gallery said. It also affirmed that Leonardo likely painted the entire picture himself and intended for it to be unfinished. The restored painting showed a range of completion from the barely sketched hand of the angel to the fully realized heads of the main figures — consistent with many of Leonardo's works. The Italian artist, said to be the "eternal perfectionist," is thought to have left his pictures unfinished because he wished to return to them later, gallery spokesman Thomas Almeroth-Williams said. more Restored Da Vinci painting reveals hidden details - Yahoo! News __________________ Is trom an t-ualach an leisce. Ni heolas go haontios Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh The sky is not the limit there are footprints on the moon.

07-16-2010, 10:13 AM	#2
Ashlar2006 Masonic Mafia Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ky Posts: 4,162 Lodge: Blog Entries: 3	Very interesting . I like anything and everything Da Vinci __________________ It is such a beautiful day , now watch some idiot screw it up !!!

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07-17-2010, 10:30 AM	#3
Disciple Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 25 Lodge:	Maybe he was thinking that he could get more inspiration when he comes back from the other life. If this is the case then Mona Liza is meant not to be finished. Is it?

07-19-2010, 10:18 PM	#4
freeman Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 25 Lodge:	It is unreal how A: people can restore old painting that have been damaged, and B: that they can figure out who painted it based on the details and stroke techniques etc. Fascinating!

07-21-2010, 09:56 PM	#5
GrapeApe Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 20 Lodge:	I wouldn't have a clue what was Da Vinci or not. I like to look at paintings but I've never really studied them to the extent that I would know what is what. It is amazing they can tell who and when they painted it though. I wouldn't want to try restoring one though, I'd destroy it completely!

07-22-2010, 07:50 AM	#6
Custer148 Lodge Secretary Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Broken Bow, NE Posts: 630 Lodge: Custer Lodge #148	Yea so would I, but just think of the money you'd make if you were good at it. Hard work I'm sure and maybe hard on your body, your eyes, etc.