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 ...
LOL...you beat me by thirty seconds.
“So dark the con of man.”
Bravo!
LOL
You berry punny girl.
LOL
Blame it on the Masons.
I GOT it!!! B O S C O!
This is a hoax. These turds are not the first ones to examine this article with a looking glass over the last few centuries...
Jenny Jenny - 867-5309
I can make out a “Z” an “O” and a “T”
Big deal! I still think “Lady with an Ermine” is the best of Leonardo’s gals.
L
L!
And just how was he able to paint these symbols that are so small the human eye can’t see them without the aid of a Microscope?
Love it.
It’s code in Italian: “Has anyone found the original yet?
You get a chance for a Spectral Tiger mount in WOW.
He had to invent a microscope, which he promptly destroyed, knowing that his message would only be properly understood by the generation living some 500 years hence.
Of course this is pure conjecture and speculation.
As I always say, “Why bother with facts when there is always speculation.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.