Leonardo Restoration Almost Complete

If there is any mind an art restorer would die to get into, it would be that of Leonardo da Vinci, the master painter, architect, engineer and inventor whose genius epitomized the brilliance of the Renaissance. That was the unique opportunity restorers in Florence have relished as they clean the “Adoration of the Magi“, a massive painting that Leonardo started in 1481 at the age of 29 but abandoned a year later, leaving it in various stages of conception and development. The current restoration of the painting, which began three years ago, has removed much of the dull, oxidized varnish as well as traces of past restoration attempts, revealing many previously hidden details, facial expressions and subtleties of light and shadow. The work will return to Florence’s Uffizi gallery next year.

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