New Technology Sheds Light On Centuries-Old Debate About Mona Lisa

Unprecedented details revealed about world’s most famous painting, including verifiable presence of eyebrows; Exhibit presents most accurate recreation of Mona Lisa’s original colors for the first time in the United States. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 17 / PRNewswire / – Since making its North American debut in San Francisco in August 2007, Da Vinci - an Exhibition of Genius has inspired thousands of visitors with the full scope of Leonardo da Vinci’s remarkable genius as an artist, inventor, anatomist, sculptor, engineer and architect. In line with the exhibition’s theme of discovery and invention, exhibition organizers RYP Australia today announced a new installation unveiling 25 secrets about the most famous painting in the world: Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” marking the first time these discoveries will be displayed in the United States.

“Mona Lisa Secrets Revealed” showcases the work of French engineer Pascal Cotte. His life-long passion for the study and preservation of the
Mona Lisa led him to invent the cutting edge 240-megapixel Multi-spectral Imaging Camera, which uses patented infrared technology and intense illumination to scan the painting and virtually peel away layers of varnish applied over centuries. With his camera, Cotte was able to uncover how the Mona Lisa looked as she was originally painted, including layers of over-painting, restoration and attempts at preservation — even identifying the individual pigments that da Vinci used. The exhibition features what is the most accurate representation ever of the Mona Lisa in its original color, presented side-by-side with a replica of what she looks like today, as well as a selection of high-definition, magnified studies.

Mona Lisa Revelations through technological innovation Cotte used his camera to scientifically verify and visually recreate 25 secrets of the Mona Lisa that otherwise go unseen — including for the first time ever revealed, the verifiable presence of eyebrows. Other discoveries include da Vinci’s preparatory drawings, alterations, restorations, and historical events the painting has withstood. Using his Multi-spectral Imaging Camera, Cotte’s work resulted in thirteen original photos of the masterpiece, with unequalled accuracy and resolution, showing how the Mona Lisa looked to Da Vinci’s contemporaries: blue sky, pink face, brighter mountains, and green trees. After two years of analysis, Cotte was further able to reveal layers of paint and undercoats covering the wooden panel on which it was painted.

The exhibition now allows the public to see amazing new details, including Mona Lisa’s original gaze and smile, new findings regarding the
mark on the corner of her eye, and the lace on her dress that has disappeared over time. Other revelations include:
– The transparency of the veil painted by glacis shows the order in which Leonardo painted
– Under-drawings show a change in the position of the left index and middle finger
– The repair of the elbow due to a rock thrown at the painting in 1956
– The blanket covering Mona Lisa’s knees also covers her stomach
– The left finger was not completely finished