Leonardo Da Vinci’s unique version of Mona Lisa

Leonardo Da Vinci painted her famous Mona Lisa in several variants, including one nude. The new painting, discovered after centuries, present a mysterious woman in a unique version, and the similarities between the two portraits are remarkable.

The painting was brought to light from a private collection, where she was hidden for over a century. It is exposed today at Museo Ideale in Tuscany and is a premiere for the people of culture and reveals unknown aspects of the famous Renaissance artist.

"Even if the painting is called Mona Vanni, the eyes, hands position, the concept of space and dark background, all this aspects make us to think at the iconography of the Mona Lisa," said Alessandra Vezzosi, director of the Museum of Tuscany.

Portrait belonged to Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Joseph FESCH (1763-1839) and was hidden in the wooden wall of his personal library. The painting was forgotten in this wall for over a century.

Experts believe that Leonardo Da Vinci has made several nude portraits, but they have never been exposed because in that time were considered offensive. It is clear however that such works have inspired other artists such as Rafaello, who in 1518 made a nude portrait of its girlfriend.