Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

'Earlier Mona Lisa' goes on tour in Asia as owners try to prove it is a real Leonardo da Vinci

Some believe the second painting is an early version of the Louvre masterpiece

Jess Denham
Thursday 15 January 2015 05:20 EST
Comments
Leonardo da Vinci's 'Earlier Mona Lisa' goes on exhibition in Singapore
Leonardo da Vinci's 'Earlier Mona Lisa' goes on exhibition in Singapore (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The ‘second Mona Lisa’ believed by some to be an earlier version of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece has gone on tour in Asia in a bid to prove its authenticity.

The Mona Lisa Foundation claims that da Vinci painted the artwork a decade before the one that hangs in Paris’ Louvre, but the wider art world views it as a later interpretation of the painting by a mystery artist.

The painting in question was first discovered in a British manor house by an art collector and critic in 1913. Since 2012, the Zurich-based foundation has been working on behalf of its owners to ascertain its origins and have it recognised as a da Vinci piece.

To further its efforts, the portrait will be exhibited across Asia. It is currently on display at The Arts House in Singapore where it will stay until 11 February.

The exhibition lays out the foundation’s reasons for believing the painting is by da Vinci, making use of scientific technology including digital analysis of brush strokes. It also mentions arguments against its own to allow viewers to draw their own conclusions.

Viewers are given an insight into the 'Earlier Mona Lisa'
Viewers are given an insight into the 'Earlier Mona Lisa' (Getty Images)

Martin Kemp, professor of art history at Oxford University, told the Wall Street Journal that he “does not know of any major Leonardo scholar who has definitely accepted it”.

The Mona Lisa is thought to show Lisa Gherardini, wife of a Florentine merchant, although little is known for certain about its history.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in