Name: The search for the true face of Leonardo
Uploaded: 2008-04-01T02:14:00Z
Duration: 4 min 4 s
Description: <i>Mona Lisa</i> is one of the best-known faces on the planet. But would you recognize an image of Leonardo da Vinci? Illustrator Siegfried Woldhek uses some thoughtful image-analysis techniques to find what he believes is the true face of Leonardo.

Here I said, "But no faces? I find that hard to believe. His contemporaries made faces." I meant to say, more specifically, "But no self-portraits? I find that hard to believe. His contemporaries made self-portraits."

Here I said, "[Leonardo] was 33, 38 and 63 when these were made." I meant to say, "He was 33, 38 and 61 when these were made."


Here I said, " ... for which Leonardo posed as a boy of 15." I meant to say, " ... for which Leonardo posed as a boy of 17."

<i>Mona Lisa</i> is one of the best-known faces on the planet. But would you recognize an image of Leonardo da Vinci? Illustrator Siegfried Woldhek uses some thoughtful image-analysis techniques to find what he believes is the true face of Leonardo.

Siegfried Woldhek: The search for the true face of Leonardo

The search for the true face of Leonardo

Analyzing over 700 drawings, a quest to uncover da Vinci's true face reveals only three portraits that fit the criteria of self-portraiture.

Exploring 700+ drawings, three potential Leonardo self-portraits emerge, unified by distinct facial features and artistic style.

Comparison with Verrocchio's David suggests these portraits, aged by creation, might indeed depict Leonardo da Vinci's evolution.

The search for the true face of Leonardo

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