Culture
Art historians from all over the world have opposed the search for an unfinished fresco by Leonardo da Vinci, which allegedly hides behind a fresco by artist Giorgio Visari in the famous Florentine Palazzo Vecchio Town Hall. About 150 art historians signed a petition calling for an end to drilling the wall that Vasari's fresco Battaglia di Marciano now adorns.
The wall is drilled to reach the hidden inner wall. It is believed that Leonardo da Vinci's unfinished fresco “The Battle of Angiari” (Battaglia di Angiari) can be found on this inner wall. It is assumed that Leonardo da Vinci began painting his fresco in 1504, but was forced to interrupt work due to some difficulties with the use of experimental visual techniques.
Vasari was then commissioned to paint a fresco, after which da Vinci's fresco may have been painted over. However, art historian Maurizio Seracini believes that Visari did not paint over da Vinci's fresco, but covered it with another wall on which he painted The Battle of Marciano. As an argument, the art historian cites the fact that Visari's fresco depicts a soldier holding a banner with the slogan “seek and find”. In addition, last year, radar images of the wall were taken and a cavity was found under it.
In order to confirm or refute their assumptions, scientists led by Seracini drill a wall to use microcameras to find out whether this wall hides another wall with Leonardo da Vinci's unfinished masterpiece. Experts say that they drill holes in places that were previously damaged. However, a scandal has broken out around this study, as many art historians oppose this treatment of Visari's masterpiece. Most art historians do not believe in the success of the search for Leonardo da Vinci's fresco behind the Visari fresco. In addition, there are documents according to which Leonardo da Vinci began writing The Battle of Anghiari on the opposite wall.
Art historians urge to stop the work at least until researchers consult with other experts in the field of Renaissance art.