A new research paper might have found the genetic data of Italian master Leonardo da Vinci from one of his sketches.
On Tuesday, researchers from the Leonardo Da Vinci Project (LDVP) posted a new paper that explored the DNA lineage of the artist. The paper, which is yet to be peer reviewed, extracted genetic data from a sketch called ‘Holy Child’ and compared it to the genetic data from materials believed to have belonged to the extended family of da Vinci.
As per the paper, “The preprint concludes that Y chromosome sequences from the artwork and from a letter penned by a cousin of Leonardo both belong to a genetic grouping of people who share a common ancestor in Tuscany, where Leonardo was born.” Jesse Asubel, an environmental scientist and chair of LDVP, added: “It’s well known that Leonardo used his fingers along with his brushes while painting, so it could be possible to find cells of epidermis mixed with the colors.”
However, there has been some skepticism about the paper. There is some debate whether the chalk sketch, which was bought by collector Fred Kline in 2001, was drawn by da Vinci or one of his students. The biggest hurdle, however, is the lack of direct genetic data from Leonardo da Vinci. His remains were lost when his tomb was destroyed during the French Revolution, and the artist had no direct descendants.
Also Read: Bertrand Scholler, Others Convicted For Harassing First Lady Of France
But the paper has its supporters as well. S. Blair Hedges, a biologist who has independently worked on DNA sampling of medieval manuscripts, called the paper “cutting edge.” Beyond establishing a biological link to the legendary artist, the paper could also be a milestone in artenomics, an emerging field that seeks to establish the authenticity of artworks through science.
