Did da Vinci paint himself into The Last Supper? Fascinating new theory suggests Leonardo used his o

[Jazzy]

He is the man behind some of the most famous portrait paintings in history.

Yet, ironically, art experts still have relatively little idea what Leonardo da Vinci himself looked like.



Because the Renaissance genius left no self-portraits from his youth, academics have been forced to explore their suspicions that he may have placed his image into one of his own masterpieces.



Now one art historian believes he has uncovered new evidence that the great man inserted himself not once, but twice, into his famous mural, The Last Supper.

Ross King, the author of the international best-seller Brunelleschi's Dome, makes reference to a poem written in the 1490s, while Leonardo was painting The Last Supper, by his friend Gasparo Visconti.



In it, Visconti makes fun of an unnamed artist for putting his image into his works 'however handsome it may be'.



Dr King also cites the famous portrait of a man in red chalk, sketched around 1515, which is thought to show Leonardo in his advancing years.



He has a Greek nose, flowing hair and a long beard, much like the faces of the apostles Thomas and James the Lesser in the 500-year-old Last Supper.

Full article with pictures



Pretty far-fetched if you ask me. What do you think?

 

[Kahnai]

I don't know, I think they might be trying to see something that just isn't there...

 

[Jazzy]

If he never left any self portraits, then what are they basing this on?

 

[DrLeftover]

I honestly don't care.



If he did, he did. So what?

 

[Jazzy]

I honestly don't care.



If he did, he did. So what?

Ross King is hoping people don't have your attitude!

 

[Evil Eye]

I honestly don't care.

This.

Although it does speak of a fairly big ego