History and Science in Leonardo’s Legacy

Virgin of the rocks, private collection

The purpose of the research project is the execution of a wide campaign of scientific analyses on artworks related in various ways to Leonardo da Vinci. For over ten years, the Conservation Science Laboratory examines both masterpieces belonging to the narrow entourage of the artist and artworks relating to the followers and to the second generation of heirs of the Master, by comparing the historical and artistic evidences and the technical bibliography with the scientific data. The research group investigates the complex issues related to the study of paintings and drawings of Leonardo’s pupils and followers to ascertain, on a strictly scientific basis, the origin, the state of conservation, the restorations occurred in times and circumstances that are not always documented, to indicate their proximity to the Master's teachings. In particular, the reception of Leonardo’s prototypes and painting technique by his entourage and followers is analyzed. The project is made possible thanks to the availability and collaboration of museums, private collectors, art dealers and auction houses. The ambition to offer scientifically new contributions is accompanied by the challenge to open new perspectives of study on the internal dynamics of Leonardo's workshop.

The project is financed by funds from the Diagnostic Laboratory, pertaining to the Diagnostics & Art research line and deriving from R_PRIV - Projects with third party funds, tariff and liberal contributions, ACT_PR - Third party contracts from private funds, SPP_PR - Tariff contracts from private funds, CNTR_LB_PR - Liberal contributions from private funds, and with the participation of Lumière Technology.

Book series related to the project: History and Science in Leonardo’s Legacy. Achademia Leonardi Vinci (CB Edizioni)

Scholarship (2016-2018) connected to the project: "Treatises, documentary sources and scientific analysis for the study of painting techniques related to the Italian and European areas between the 15th and the 18th centuries".

Fixed term contract (2019-2020) connected to the project: “From the transparencies of glacis to the brilliance of the acrylic: techniques and materials between 15th and 20th centuries”.

Cultural Agreement - Lumière Technology (n.80/2019 prot.n.1323): https://beniculturali.unibo.it/it/dipartimento/accordi-e-collaborazioni

Research group: Matteucci Chiara (senior graduated technician, Unibo), Cataldo Martina (scholar fellow, Unibo), Apicella Salvatore Andrea (Lumière Technology, Paris), Cotte Pascal (Lumière Technology, Paris), Tarantola Gaia (Unibo), Bertelli Carlo (professor, University of Lausanne and of the Italian Switzerland), Ghelfi Barbara (associate professor, Unibo), Maklakova Elena (professor, University of Moscow), Kryshtall Ivàn (Museum of Christian culture, St. Petersburg), Den Leeuw Milko (Authentication in Art), Hajdas Irka (Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zurich), Hendriks Laura (Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zurich), Rizzà Laura (adjunct professor, Unibo), Bevilacqua Fabio (adjunct professor, Unibo), Thistlewood Jevon (Ashmolean Museum), Gnignera Elisabetta (historian of costume).