http://my.highschooljournalism.org http://my.highschooljournalism.org en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 25 May 2013 23:38:28 GMT 15 By CAITLIN BAKER
On March 19, 2012, a fresco by 16th century Leonardo da Vinci was said to be uncovered behind a wall in a city hall in Florence, Italy. Finding the painting “Battle of Anghiari” has been controversial because it is housed directly behind another work, “The Battle of Marciano” by Giorgio Vasari. In order to uncover “Battle of Anghiari,” researchers had to drill several holes into Vasari’s painting just on the hunch that da Vinci’s fresco was behind. After drilling the holes, the researchers used an electron microscope and probes to test the paint with da Vinci’s other works to see if they were a match. The results revealed that the black paint had an unusual chemical makeup of manganese and iron-the same chemical makeup of much of the paint in “The Mona Lisa.” “Da Vinci was an inventor with his paints, so that part seems to match up,” said art teacher Mrs. Sealover. “They’ll need to do more research to see if the piece fits artistically and historically as well.” Da Vinci’s lost painting, “Battle of Anghiari,” has an interesting history. Da Vinci was commissioned in the fifteenth century to paint a fresco depicting Florence republic’s victory against the Milanese in a battle June 29, 1440. Da Vinci accepted the job, but abandoned his project a year after he started. He considered war “a most beastly madness.” Not long after, Giorgio Vasari was commissioned to paint a new fresco, “The Battle of Marciano” in the city hall in order to accommodate higher ceilings. Historians are skeptical as to whether the painting behind Vasari’s is truly da Vinci’s work. Though the paint tested was used almost exclusively by Leonardo da Vinci, historians and artists find it hard to believe that the painting would not be destroyed before Vasari began “The Battle of Marciano” in the very same place. “I don’t know if it’s da Vinci’s or not, but I’d love to see it in real life,” said junior Pete Meehan. To learn about another of da Vinci’s lost paintings, visit video.pbs.org/video/2189483449/ or search PBS Nova for Mystery of a Masterpiece. ]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:58:45 GMT