"In 1481 the monks of San Donato a Scopeto near Florence commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint an altar-piece celebrating the Adoration of the Magi. In one of the preparatory drawings, Leonardo drew with meticulous accuracy a refined perspective grid in order to place the architectural structures, the human figures, and the animals in a realistically proportioned way.This precious study, kept in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, is shown for the first time ever in the United States on Finmeccanica's initiative and because of the collaboration between the Uffizi Gallery and the Library of Congress."
Lumiere Technology, a start-up based in Paris, reveals the true colors of the Mona Lisa.
Pascal Cotte, engineer and founder of Lumiere Technology, largely contributed to the knowledge of the Mona Lisa thanks to the multispectral digitization of the famous painting, whose report is detailed in the famous book "Mona Lisa - Inside the Painting", recently published by Abrams in USA, Gallimard & the Editions of the Louvre in France, Shirmer Mosel in Germany.
The hidden knowledge of the true colors was revealed by multispectrally scanning the painting in thirteen channels - from Ultra Violet to Infra Red. Then the spectral response curve of the varnish in each pixel was isolated and subtracted from the digital file to virtually reveal the surface of the painting when it had freshly exited Leonardo da Vinci's workshop.
This virtual removal of years of accumulated varnish is an illustration of Lumiere Technology's technical knowledge that will now be marketed as an exclusive digitization service to museums and private fine art collections worldwide.
The true revolution that Pascal Cotte developed enables the in-depth study of fine art paintings using a numerical file to reveal the true pigments for viewing and analysis without touching or damaging the paintings.
Lumiere Technology offers this service to museums worldwide as a unique, single tool to assess, analyze, authenticate, restore and reproduce their masterpieces of fine art.
"New images uncover 25 secrets about the Mona Lisa, including proof that Leonardo da Vinci gave her eyebrows, solving a long-held mystery.
The images are part of an exhibition, "Mona Lisa Secrets Revealed," which features new research by French engineer Pascal Cotte and debuts in the United States at the Metreon Center in San Francisco, where it will remain through the end of this year. The Mona Lisa showcase is part of a larger exhibition called "Da Vinci: An Exhibition of Genius." "
"LearnOutLoud.com presents the Art History Podcast. Each episode provides thoughtful analysis of the enduring artistic masterpieces that have become hallmarks of western culture."
"Need advice on the care of books, photos, videos, and other media in your collections? These publications from the Preservation Directorate answer many questions about the care, handling and storage of your valuable collections.
* Care, Handling and "
"Yes, the famed 19th century Beale Treasure is buried in the mountains of Bedford, Virginia. But here you also will find the gold that spills from the sunsets over Smith Mountain Lake, the glory of the Peaks of Otter at dawn, and the solitude of hikes along the Appalachian Trail. Bedford is a harvest festival, the world-famous National D-Day Memorial, fine wines, glorious apples, rugged trails and breath taking overlooks. Bedford is a treasure trove of experiences."