[higgmeister]

I thought at first you were wrong, but as I looked more closely, the painting appears to be missing that “je ne sais quoi” of a da Vinci and even his study sketch.

[Argus]

The expression of the face is bland, devoid of character, the hair lacks texture, the chaplet is tilted at an unlikely angle and looks wrong for the period, and the neckline of the dress is quite different from the drawing. If it’s a Leonardo, he really dashed it off, but I doubt it.

[Red Badger]

Maybe it was Fernando Da Vinci....................

[Joe 6-pack]

If it is a DaVinci, it should be easy enough to authenticate with the index of finger and hand prints from known DaVinci works. It's been done for other questioned paintings.

Comparing the sketch to the work, my guess is the painting was started then abandoned by LDV, then later finished/restored/*improved* by some apprentice or novice.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

I agree; the sketch is far superior to that painting. They’d better sell that painting to a museum quick, before they identify all the “improvements” by some other hand.

[djf]

The sketch is, IMHO, superior in one respect.
She has far more character and personality, especially the face.