What Did Leonardo Da Vinci Really Look Like?

Recent discoveries of artwork that may be portraits of Leonardo Da Vinci have renewed the controversy over which currently accepted works are the true depictions of his likeness. The discoveries include a portrait hidden under another painting, a faint sketch under the writing in his notebook, and a stained-glass church window from the period.

The most commonly reproduced portrait, erroneously labeled as Leonardo, is a sketch that depicts a balding, coarse-featured and stern octogenarian. Originally thought to be a self-portrait by Da Vinci, it is very likely a portrait of his father, or perhaps his uncle, both of whom lived into their 80's. Leonardo, who passed at age 67, had very different features, and certainly did not have the aging characteristics of a man 20 years his senior.

The most authoritative portrait of Da Vinci that can be verified with near certainty is the red-chalk drawing by his last pupil and faithful assistant, Francesco Melzi. Francesco was with Leonardo in France at his death at age 67. The drawing, in profile, was made when Leonardo was 58. Leonardo was still handsome and fit, his face nearly free of wrinkles. The hairline is slightly receding and there is graying at the temples and in the beard, but the flowing hair is still thick and luxuriant, with no hint of thinning or baldness. It is not possible that he could have aged to the equivalent of an 85 year old man in a mere 9 years.

Examination of the profile in Melzi's portrait show a distinctive, high, curving arch to the bridge of the nose that tapers a smallish, rounded end. The mustache is clipped short down to the corners of the mouth. (This was a typical custom of the time that made dining with mannered elegance more practical.) Leonardo's hair and beard are unshorn, and fall in waving cascades. The hairs of the eyebrow and eyelashes are dark and well defined. The space between the eyebrows has distinct furrows, such as often develop in a person that habitually focuses their vision and mental concentration to produce works of art.

In the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, there is a portrait attributed to Cristofano dell'Altissimo. It depicts Leonardo at a younger age, the face in a three-quarter view. Comparing the features to the Melzi portrait, it is evident that this is the same person. Leonardo's face is relatively smooth, and the nose with the strong, arching bridge is identical, as are the dark eyebrows, lashes and deeply set, penetrating eyes. The hair, beard, and clipped mustache match as well. There are the same concentration-furrows on the brow.

Written descriptions of Leonardo make mention of his handsome face and piercing gaze. His hair is described as blond or golden and his beard as gold with a reddish tinge. His eyes were said to be blue or blue-gray. Some accounts say that he was a "perfect" specimen of a man, tall and graceful, yet so strong that he could bend a horse-shoe as if it were lead. There are a number of paintings by Italian artists who knew Leonardo well that support this imagery.

The accompanying illustration of Leonardo by the author was the result of extensive research with measurement and proportional comparison of features in numerous portraits described as depicting Da Vinci. Included are a color illustration of the portrait, possibly of Leonardo's father, and the chalk portrait by Francesco Melzi. The pictures can also be seen in an easy-view slide show; the link is listed in the Resources section below.

Resources:
Da Vinci Portrait Slide Show
Digital Restoration of the Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa's True Identity Revealed
Hidden Code in Da Vinci's Last Supper

References:

Leonardo da Vinci
Authors: Adolph Rosenberg, J Lohse:Translator
Published by Velhagen & Klasing, 1903

Leonardo Da Vinci
Author: Robert Henry Hobart Cust
Published by G. Bell & Sons, 1908

The Lives of the Artists (Oxford World's Classics)
Author: Giorgio Vasari
LC Classification: N6922 .V2213

Leonardo Da Vinci - The Tragic Pursuit of Perfection
By Antonina Vallentin
Published by READ BOOKS, 2007
ISBN 140672923X, 9781406729238