The Prado Museum in Spain has discovered that the restoration of what was thought to be just another copy of the Mona Lisa has revealed that it was not only painted at the same time as the original, but also in the same studio. One of Da Vinci’s students painted the work alongside the master copying him as he painted the 16th century original which hangs in the Louvre in Paris.
The Prado’s restoration revealed hidden layers as the copy at first sight lacked the landscape background which was covered over with paint and varnish. It is in a far better condition than the original and will allow for a better study of the canvas.
There are dozens of Mona Lisa copies from the 16th and 17th centuries, but the Prado’s now looks like being the most interesting with art experts saying the Madrid painting is not a first hand copy, but the Mona Lisa’s twin sister.
The work is to be presented at the Prado on February 21st and it will then travel to be exhibited next to the original in the Louvre between March 29th and June 25th.
