London: A self-portrait attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, long believed by its owners to be a copy, has now been identified as an original work after forensic analysis found three fingerprints on the artwork.
A team led by Luigi Capasso, an anthropology professor at Gabriele d’Annunzio University in Italy, said the fingerprints recorded on the portrait were compared with prints found on another Da Vinci painting. Based on the match, the group concluded the marks belonged to the artist.
Researchers said the assessment was supported by additional examinations carried out with the help of art experts and historians, including radiocarbon dating and pigment analysis.
Capasso noted that the team approached the case from a scientific and forensic standpoint rather than as art historians. Investigators also reported that Da Vinci’s signature and symbols were detected on the work.
Radiocarbon dating suggests the portrait may have been created between 1478 and 1520. The report also referenced earlier instances where fingerprints were found on other works linked to Da Vinci, though not all could be conclusively attributed to him.
