Leonardo's lost princess: one man's quest to authenticate an unknown portrait by Leonardo da Vinci

How an oddly attributed $19,000 picture proved to be a $100 million work by Leonardo da Vinci—a true art-world detective story In late 2010, art collector Peter Silverman revealed that a 'German, early 19th century' portrait he had bought for $19,000 was, in fact, a previously unknown drawing by Leonardo da Vinci—an exquisite depiction of Bianca Sforza, rendered 500 years ago. In Leonardo's Lost Princess, Silverman gives a riveting first person account of how hisinitial suspicions of the portrait's provenance were confirmed repeatedly by scientists and art experts. He describes the path to authentication, fraught with opposition and controversy. The twists and turns of this fascinating, decade-long quest lead from art history to cutting-edge science, and from a New York art gallery to Paris, Milan, Zurich, and finally a Warsaw library where thefinal, convincing evidence that the portrait was indeed by Da Vinci was found. Takes an up-close look at the workings of the art world and at figures ranging from dealers and connoisseurs to a suspected forger Discusses current scientific techniques used to investigate and authenticate works of art, such as carbon dating and cutting-edge photography Uses Silverman's drawing as an entreeinto Leonardo da Vinci's world: his studio, his style, and his methods Explores the intersection of art and science in the authentication process, involving the work of a man who embodied that intersection Unearthing the secrets of awork that were almost lost to history, the book is ideal reading for art lovers and anyone interested in an astounding case of 'whodunnit'. INDICE: Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Found! Chapter 2. Who Is She? Chapter 3. Leonardos World Chapter 4. Real or Fake? Chapter 5. The Magic Box Chapter 6.A Scholars View Chapter 7. Leonardos Principles Chapter 8. Beloved Daughter Chapter 9. The Art of Fingerprints Chapter 10. The World Reacts Chapter 11. The$100 Million Blunder? Chapter 12. The Art World Strikes Back Chapter 13. WhatConstitutes Proof? Chapter 14. Miracle in Warsaw Epilogue. Lifes Fleeting Grace Appendix A. Fingerprints and Art Appendix B. Reading and Resources AppendixC. Turners Report on Portrait of a Young Woman in Profile Notes Index

• ISBN: 978-0-470-93640-5
• Editorial: John Wiley & Sons
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 280
• Fecha Publicación: 22/02/2012
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés