I - 1 La Science pour l'Art, les chefs d’œuvres de Léonard au-delà du visible.
Infrared reflectography and multispectral imaging reveal Leonardo da Vinci's underdrawings, mathematical perspective grids, deliberate anamorphic optical corrections, and hidden compositional changes (pentimenti).
Scientific imaging transforms art history by exposing how Leonardo combined strict geometric perspective, optical illusions tailored to viewer position, and evolving symbolic narrative choices beneath his finished paint layers.
Section summaries
The speaker demonstrates how multispectral imaging at different wavelengths isolates distinct paint materials and uncovers hidden underdrawings. Infrared scans expose Leonardo's explicit grid lines for perspective, showing how they strictly follow proportional rules and converge at primary and secondary vanishing points.
- Wavelength mixing isolates surface pigments from underdrawn graphite or ink layers.
- Leonardo mapped out strict perspective grids with primary and secondary vanishing points before painting.
Provides the foundational demonstration of how non-invasive spectral imaging uncovers underdrawn geometry.
The presentation examines an anatomical discrepancy where a right arm appears disproportionately long. Infrared reflectography shows that this was an intentional anamorphic distortion—an optical trick designed to make the limbs appear equal in length when seen from a specific side perspective.
- Disproportions in Leonardo's figures can represent calculated anamorphic adjustments for physical viewer positioning.
- Mathematical ratios and optical science directly dictated Leonardo's underdrawing decisions.
Delivers a critical insight into Leonardo's application of optics over simplistic anatomical fidelity.
Infrared reflectography of the Madonna of the Yarnwinder exposes that what appears to be a wooden cross was originally drafted as a spinning machine ('machine à filer') with bobbins. The underdrawing also reveals erased background houses replaced by mountains, along with a digital fingerprint attributed to Leonardo.
- The cross motif was initially drawn as textile machinery in early iterations.
- Background architectures were replaced with natural rocky terrain in the final composition.
Exposes crucial thematic and symbolic shifts made during the painting process.
The presenter highlights infrared analysis of the Adoration of the Magi before and after cleaning. The scans reveal extensive perspective grid studies, unfinished figures (such as a man on the far right), and background figures replaced by rocks and landscape elements.
- Infrared reflectography clarifies complex compositions before and after conservation cleaning.
- Leonardo frequently abandoned fully sketched background figures and restructured whole scenes.
Offers additional concrete examples of pentimenti without introducing new theoretical concepts.
Key points
- Multispectral Material Differentiation — Combining images captured across different light wavelengths allows conservators to isolate specific physical pigments and uncover invisible underdrawing layers beneath the surface.
- Anamorphic Perspective and calculated Distortions — Underdrawing analyses reveal that seemingly disproportionate anatomical features, such as the extended right arm in the Annunciation, are calculated anamorphic adjustments designed to correct visually when viewed from specific oblique angles.
- Compositional Revision via Pentimenti — Infrared scans of works like the Madonna of the Yarnwinder reveal significant changes (pentimenti)—such as underdrawn spinning machinery ('machine à filer') originally occupying the space of the wooden cross, and erased background houses.
“on mélange les images à différentes longueurs d'onde on peut obtenir une image où les différents couleurs présents les différents matériaux” — Patricia
“ce n'était pas une erreur mais un amour fis c'est une sorte d'illusion d'optique pour avoir les bras de la même longueur si on boit d'une certaine perspective” — Patricia
AI-generated from the transcript. May contain errors.
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