Move along folks, nothing to see here... (ctd.)
February 17 2015
Picture: Die Welt
More bad news for the owners/promoters of the 'Leonardo' (above) that isn't: Prof. Carlo Pedretti, of the University of California, has denied that he ever said the painting was by Leonardo. Although, he was quoted at the time of its unveiling (in Corriere Della Sera, for example) as saying:
"There are no doubts that the portrait is the work of Leonardo."
Given that Pedretti was, apparently, the only person who seriously thought the picture was any good, I think we can safely go back to regarding this picture as a copy. And the fellow charged with 'illegally exporting' this masterpiece of Italian heritage to Switzerland can rest easy.
For earlier AHN on this picture, see here and here.
For more curious Pedretti/Leonardo-ness, see here.
