Decades-long
research into Leonardo da Vinci's remains has revealed how
many people currently alive can claim to be descendants of the family of the
Renaissance genius and "Mona Lisa" painter: It's 14.
The
findings, published in the journal Human Evolution last month, comes
from a new genealogical tree going through 21 generations and four branches.
The
research is part of the Leonardo Da Vinci DNA Project,
which aims to confirm remains thought to be his and to "better understand
his extraordinary talents and visual acuity through genetic associations."
The
researchers behind the study wrote these results are "eagerly awaited from
an historical viewpoint," as they will help academics to
"scientifically explore the roots of his genius, to find information on
his physical prowess and on his possibly precocious aging, on his being
left-handed and his health and possible hereditary sicknesses, and to explain
certain peculiar sensory perceptions, like his extraordinary visual quality and
synesthesia."
Researchers
gathered data from historical documents in public and private archives, and
direct accounts by descendants of Leonardo's family
members.
While
the study provided little information about the living descendants, in order to
protect their privacy, project researchers Agnese Sabato and Alessandro Vezzosi
told CNN that the individuals vary in age from 1 to 85.
"There
are very young children and retirees who previously carried out various
activities: employees of both public and private bodies, surveyors (and)
traders," the pair said over email, adding: "For us, they are all
extraordinary people ... from a human point of view. They live in Tuscany.
However, the research continues on other branches and in other countries."
As
Leonardo is not known to have had any children, Sabato and Vezzosi focused
their research on the artist's father and his descendents. They looked at
"thousands of unpublished documents," as well as reexamined evidence
that was "known but not understood," they wrote.
"Our
original question was: Is it possible that there are no biological heirs from
the descendants of the numerous sons of Ser Piero, Leonardo's father?"
they said, adding: "We have always tried to investigate the story of
Leonardo the man, as well as Leonardo the artist, to explain the reasons for
his genius. Now, with the help of science, we hope that we can add some
significant answers."
Born
in 1452, Leonardo is known for his paintings "Mona Lisa" and
"The Last Supper." Leonardo also dedicated his time to science, math,
architecture, design, engineering, geology, cartography, sculpting and drawing.
His
artwork continues to elicit hefty payments from collectors.
Last
year, an online bidder paid $98,000 to attend the annual examination of the Mona Lisa,
when the Louvre museum in Paris takes the
painting out of its case for inspection.
Earlier
this month, a new auction record was set when a tiny sketch of a bear sold
for more than $12 million.
Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Image
From CNN
