Mona Lisa ‘inspired by gay lover’

Mona Lisa ‘inspired by gay lover’

An Italian research team claims to have discovered the identity of the model who posed for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, claimingit was inspired by a man.

Silvano Vinceti, chairman of the Italian national committee for cultural heritage, has caused a stir in the art world by announcing the iconic painting was based on the artist’s apprentice and rumoured gay lover, Salai (real name Gian Giacomo Caprotti).

Salai, a gifted artist in his own right, worked with da Vinci for 25 years and is believed to have posed for several of his paintings.

Vincenti claims the pair were probably lovers and further asserts that Salai acted as the renaissance master’s muse.

He reached the conclusion by drawing comparisons between the facial features of models in other da Vinci paintings (St. John the Baptist and The Angel Incarnate) and the Mona Lisa’s nose and mouth.

“There are remarkable similarities,” Mr Vinceti said.

The art historian believes da Vinci even left clues on the most famous piece of canvas on the planet, painting tiny letters in the smiling lady’s eyes.

“Close examination of a high-quality digital copy of the portrait had revealed an L for Leonardo and an S for Salai,” he said.

The Italian’s revelations were immediately dismissed by experts at the Louvre in Paris.

“Every possible laboratory test possible” has been carried on the masterpiece according to the museum and “no inscriptions, letters or numbers were discovered during the tests”.

The museum also pointed out that Mr Vinceti had made his claims without having access to the painting itself.

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