Leonardo da Vinci, celebrated as a painter, inventor, and anatomist, has now been recognized as an innovative chemist, adding to his extensive array of talents.
A recent study suggests that the master artist was even more experimental with his famous “Mona Lisa” than previously believed. Using X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, a group of scientists from France and Britain detected a rare mineral compound within this iconic artwork.
The discovery offers fresh insights into the painting techniques employed in the early 1500s, shedding new light on the creation process. This study was recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
In addition to lead white pigment and oil, the compound, referred to as plumbonacrite, was identified in the paint’s underlying layer, unveiling another facet of Leonardo’s genius.
