A self-portrait believed to be by Leonardo da Vinci has been confirmed as an original work after forensic experts identified fingerprints on the artwork, according to reports from London.
The drawing, made when Da Vinci was 53, had long been treated by its owners as a copy. The piece was discovered in 2008, prompting a fresh scientific examination.
A team led by Luigi Capasso, an anthropology professor at Italy’s Chieti University, said three fingerprints found on the portrait were compared with marks from another Da Vinci painting. Based on the match, the team concluded the prints belonged to the artist.
Researchers also relied on support from art experts and historians, and used radiocarbon dating and pigment analysis to strengthen the findings. The tests suggest the work was created between 1478 and 1520, and investigators also reported the presence of Da Vinci’s signature and symbols.
Capasso noted that the team approached the case as scientists rather than art historians, focusing on the fingerprint evidence to establish authenticity.
