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The DNA of da Vinci may have been extracted from a 15th-century drawing
What if we could get to know the greatest genius of the Renaissance not only through his paintings, but through his genes as well? Science is now attempting exactly that, as researchers have tried to extract the DNA of da Vinci from a 15th-century drawing. The Holy Child may offer new hope that Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy can be explored not only from an art-historical perspective, but also from a biological one – although the path is full of obstacles and unanswered questions.
The work and life of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest geniuses of the Renaissance, have fascinated people for centuries. Now, however, science may reveal a new dimension of the Italian master’s life. Some researchers claim they have managed to extract the DNA of da Vinci from a 15th-century chalk drawing, The Holy Child. This discovery could open up new possibilities not only for understanding the artist’s life, but also for verifying the authenticity of artworks.
The Holy Child and the DNA of da Vinci
The Holy Child was created using red chalk, and many admire the work for its delicacy, rich detail and artistic expressiveness. Scientists, however, saw not only its beauty, but also a special opportunity hidden within it: if the drawing is truly Leonardo da Vinci’s work, it might be possible to extract the artist’s DNA from it for analysis.
According to a recently published study, scientists gently rubbed the surface of The Holy Child in an attempt to locate the DNA of da Vinci. The sample obtained from the drawing proved extremely promising. They managed to identify a Y-chromosome sequence belonging to the E1b1b haplogroup, which is fairly common among people living around Tuscany, Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace. This makes it likely that the sample came from his family.
Researchers also found that the sample shows similarities to another genetic sample extracted from a letter written by Leonardo’s distant cousin.
Scientists hope that such techniques will not only help analyse the DNA of da Vinci, but also assist in authenticating other artworks of unknown or disputed origin. If genetic traces can confirm the creator of a work, this could represent a revolutionary breakthrough in both art history and genetic research.
Challenges in identification
Although the sample extracted from The Holy Child appears promising, authentic identification of the DNA of da Vinci is extremely difficult. Leonardo’s original grave in France was destroyed during the French Revolution, and his remains were mixed with those of others, leaving scientists without access to reliable samples. The problem is further complicated by the fact that the burial place of the artist’s mother is unknown, and researchers have not been permitted to examine his father’s tomb.
In addition, many artworks are off-limits for genetic testing, or DNA simply cannot be extracted from the examined pieces. Furthermore, it is not certain that The Holy Child was actually created by da Vinci himself. According to some theories, it may have been drawn by one of his students, who also came from Tuscany. In that case, the DNA sequence identified as belonging to the E1b1b haplogroup could just as easily belong to the student.
Despite this, researchers have not given up on identifying the DNA of da Vinci. They are simultaneously examining the remains of more distant relatives, the genomes of living descendants, as well as letters and other works by da Vinci that may contain genetic material.
The search for the DNA of da Vinci is therefore not only scientifically, but also culturally significant. If researchers succeed in linking genetic traces to his works, it could offer new insight into the origins of Leonardo da Vinci’s extraordinary talent, as well as uncovering the genes and family heritage of the Renaissance master.