Rendering №3

The headline of the article is Artwork analysis: Self-portrait in red chalk, by Leonardo da Vinci. The article was created on December 21, 2012 and last updated on December 24, 2012. The author of the article is A. D. Scaramella. The article is devoted to the self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. The author of the article gives the readers a description of this painting and tries to find out who did the picture depicts.

The writer states that The Royal Library of Turin possesses a red chalk drawing that is listed as the self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. The likeness of an old, wise looking man with long beard and hair looks at the viewer, and reflects an image that one might have of a Renaissance man. It was acquired by King Carlo Alberto of Savoy in 1839.

Further the author reports that most art historians accept Leonardo da Vinci, as the painter, as no other artist would have been capable of such delicate depiction. The other reason to back up this theory is the similarity of Leonardo's portraiture on an earlier painting: Raphael's School of Athens, where Leonardo appears in the role of Plato.

The writer clarifies that those who have concerns about the self-portrait, mostly accept the creator but raise questions regarding the model. Viewers can see a matured male portrait from a three-quarter view. He has deep wrinkles, baggy eyes and long eyebrows. His beard and hair covers the shoulders. The figure is similar to the representation philosophers or prophets. At the time of finishing the portrait in 1510, Leonardo was around 60 years old.

Nevertheless, skeptics state that the drawing shows a man of 75-80 years and Leonardo would have looked much younger. In this case the model must have been his father Piero da Vinci or his uncle, Francesco. They both had a long life and lived until the age of 80, while Leonardo died a few years after creating this drawing, at the age of 67.

Coming to the conclusion, the author says that blotches, spots and stains appeared and started to fade away the work of Leonardo. The phenomenon is called "foxing”, and might be caused by oxidation of pigments, fungi or sunlight. The damaged self portrait is kept in a unique protective container that registers climate changes, humidity, vibration etc. and alarms the person on duty, if any change is detected. Scholars trying to save this valuable art piece are afraid of any intervention, so as not to cause further deterioration.

To my mind, this article is really worth reading. Having read it I have learned many new things for myself about the picture “The portrait of a man in red chalk”.