La Bella Principessa

by Martin; Cotte Kemp

In October 2009, a major artwork by Leonardo da Vinci was uncovered. The 500 year-old portrait is one of the most extraordinary discoveries of our time. This is the story of how a team of experts -- led by Professor Martin Kemp --pieced together the evidence, detailed historical research and technical analysis to follow a trail that leads back to the 15th Century. There is an element of mystery and an aura of mystical glamour that surrounds Leonardo. So when news of the discovery broke, it was met with astonishment, even disbelief. Here was a new work of art by a genius who left us astonishingly few -- no more than a handful. Martin Kemp takes us on a journey of discovery recounting the steps he and Pascal Cotte took in authenticating the painting including the use of forensic methods usually reserved for criminal investigation. He recounts how experts matched a fingerprint found on La Bella Principessa to the great Renaissance master. This discovery throws new light on Leonardo da Vinci and his world. We learn the story of the girl who inspired the painting. The sitter, a beautiful young girl, displays a sense of melancholy and strength, a tender and fragile beauty. But who is she? By far the most likely candidate is the illegitimate daughter of Duke Ludovico Sforza. Martin Kemp tells, too, the tragic story of this princess who was to die when she was just fourteen years old. Previously changing hands for just GBP12,000, the painting is now thought to be worth something in the region of GBP150 million. As 'La Bella Principessa' (The Beautiful Princess) finally goes on display to the world, the people responsible for proving it is one of Leonardo da Vinci's tell the story of its discovery. Superbly researched and richly illustrated, La Bella Principessa reveals the Renaissance and its great master in a new light.

Genres: Art, History, Art History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Larae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book as the original video of the subject is no longer available. This is because this work of art is the only “Leonardo Da Vinci” to still be held in private hands. I put Leonardo’s name in quotation marks as the painting of “La Bella Principessa” is not yet 100#% accepted by other “experts”. The evidence in this book is technical but written in a way that a lay person, like me, can somewhat be understood. I want to believe it is enough to convince even the other experts that this painting of a beautiful young woman is by Leonardo.
Additionally the book itself is a work of art. The paper, the fonts utilized, and the photographs are beautiful in their own right. I am happy to have this book in my collection and will enjoy looking at it in the years to come.

[Nick H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art history is always interesting to me, and this discovery of a new Leonardo was particularly appealing. How do you “prove” something was made by a specific artist 500 years ago—even a famous one—if we have no other evidence of him working in that medium? Ultimately I thought the artistic analysis of Part 1 was most engaging, though Part 2’s scientific approach had some fascinating things in it as well. In the end, I’m definitely convinced!

美術の歴史はいつも面白い。この新しいレオナルドが特に面白い話題。僕にとってパート1の美術の論理が1番面白かった、けどパート2の科学的な論理がたまに面白い一部あった。僕にめっちゃ説得してくれた

[Kawusia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was searching for this book for sometime and when it finally arrived it is a beautiful piece of work. The dating confirms that the parchment is from Leonardo's time. Or near from this time. But it cannot say that it was da Vinci. All the other analysis are most impressive. Most interesting is the follow up story of a book found in Warsaw. One of the 4 Sforziada... a page is missing in it. Still the drawing is not fully recognised as work of da Vinci. This is probably a subject for a new book to be written by someone.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning about the ways of accurately dating an artwork and the technology involved was intriguing. I think the evidence is quite compelling that this vellum work was created by Leonardo Da Vinci. I loved the in-depth discussions of the details. It is a gorgeous portrait. Perhaps people will flock it the way they do the Mona Lisa in the future.