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.