The numbers and letters are not visible to the human eye but have to be viewed under a microscope
Posted on 12/12/2010 10:14:30 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Art historians are probing a real life Da Vinci Code style mystery after discovering tiny numbers and letters painted into the eyes of the artist's enigmatic Mona Lisa painting.
The numbers and letters are not visible to the human eye but have to be viewed under a microscope
Leonardo Da Vinci's 500-year-old Renaissance masterpiece has long been steeped in mystery, and even today the true identity of the woman with the alluring smile still far from certain.
Now members of Italy's National Committee for Cultural Heritage have revealed that by magnifying high resolution images of the Mona Lisa's eyes letters and numbers can be seen.
"To the naked the symbols are not visible but with a magnifying glass they can clearly be seen," said Silvano Vinceti, president of the Committee.
In the right eye appear to be the letters LV which could well stand for his name Leonardo Da Vinci while in the left eye there are also symbols but they are not as defined.
He said: "It is very difficult to make them out clearly but they appear to be the letters CE or it could be the letter B - you have to remember the picture is almost 500 years old so it is not as sharp and clear as when first painted.
"While in the arch of the bridge in the background the number 72 can be seen, or it could be an L and the number 2."
The painting also featured in the Dan Brown blockbuster The Da Vinci Code, which was turned into a 2006 film starring Tom Hanks. His character interprets secret messages hidden in Mona Lisa and Da Vinci's other works, including The Last Supper.
Mr Vinceti, who has travelled to Paris to examine the painting in the Louvre
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
great. Here I thought he was a genius. Instead its a “color by number”.
ping
I'm clothed and still can't see them.
soon to be a major motion picture, I am sure.
Here I thought he was a genius. Instead its a “color by number”.
Yes, the ACTUAL DaVinci code!
“Paging Robert Langdon...”
They could also be cracks in the 500 year old dried up paint. Idiots.
And in the lower left-hand corner, you can see a tiny depiction of the McDonald’s golden arches...
I can clearly see the letters B + S in this article.
". . . . the number 72 can be seen, or it could be an L and the number 2"
Or maybe NASA could help. They're looking for a new gig. Did Leo use arsenic in his paint?
yitbos
LOL! I see it now.
That is a good one.
A+, dude.
It's an 'L'. It's part of a secret message that says "Be sure to drink your OVALTINE"
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