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Sketches found behind da Vinci oil painting

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-19 07:51

Three sketches possibly drawn by Leonardo da Vinci have been found on the back of one of the master's major works, the Louvre museum said yesterday.

The museum said in a statement that the drawings were found when da Vinci 1500s oil Virgin And Child With St Anne was undergoing routine examination in the Louvre laboratory.

"When taking down the work, a curator noticed two barely visible sketches on the back, representing a horse's head and half a skull," the Louvre said. Further examination revealed a third sketch, a Baby Jesus and Lamb.

"This is an exceptional discovery as sketches on backs of works are rare and there is no known example of one from Leonardo to this day," it added.

The sketches, practically invisible to the naked eye, had never been noticed in the past when handling the extremely heavy work. The work is made of four vertical planks of poplar backed by two horizontal wooden crosspieces.

After noting the presence of the two sketches, the back of the work was sent for further examination and a third sketch seen.