The drawings of Leonardo da Vinci hold many mysteries, even 500 years after they were first sketched. While some offer clues as to the identity of the Renaissance master’s models, others have been found to contain some more surprising things.
Researchers have discovered residues of DNA and bacteria on several of the artist’s most famous drawings, revealing all kinds of information about the geographical areas they have passed through and the experts who have restored them.
Scientists from Austria and Italy have studied the microbiome of a selection of drawings by da Vinci, most of which are housed in the Royal Library of Turin. These include “Autoritratto” (“Portrait of a Man i…
Keep on reading: A world of DNA, bacteria found on Leonardo da Vinci drawings