Tuscan archives yield up secrets of Leonardo´s mystery mother
(The Guardian Italy)

Art historian´s book sheds new light on the Mona LisaThe identity of Leonardo da Vinci´s mother has always been a mystery. Art historians have struggled to find information about the woman whose illegitimate son became the artistic genius who painted Mona Lisa. With only a possible first name - Caterina - there has been speculation that she was a peasant or even a slave from north Africa. Beyond that, there is little to go on.Now, almost six centuries later, one of the world´s leading authorities on Leonardo has given a far fuller account of her story, piecing together her son´s world using previously overlooked documents. Continue reading...