Portrait of a man in red chalk - Leonardo da Vinci

Quite simply there are some works of art that cannot be valued at all because of their immense influence and roles played during the course of history. Should value be attached to this particular work by Leonardo da Vinci, known as the man in red chalk, then truly historians and valuation experts would find the toughest task in ascertaining a monetary figure for a work whose value is truly immeasurable.

The portrait of a man in red chalk c.1510 is the assumed portrait of none other than the genius himself, Leonardo da Vinci. b.1452 d. 1519. This work is of red chalk on paper and is in such a fragile state that it remains hidden in the  Royal Library (Biblioteca Reale) Turin, Italy in a purpose built caveau hidden from natural light and kept at a constant of 20 degrees Celsius with the humidity level at 55 per cent to maintain its preservation along with other priceless manuscripts. 

This was the painting that was hidden in Rome during WWII for fear the Nazis would present it to Adolf Hitler and drive the dictator to even higher levels of madness! The painting remains hidden from the public, much to do with it's fragile state, but also because it is rumored to have mystical powers for whosoever gazes into the master's eyes. It's monetary value as a source of inspiration to the beholder is truly incalculable and immeasurable.

The self-portrait has had a mysterious and secretive history with the only credible evidence of ownership appearing when the portrait appeared as part of a collection of major art works purchased in 1839 by King Carlo Alberto of Savoy for the sum of 70,000 Piedmontese lire. The work was immediately housed at Turin.

Historians forever shall dispute the likeness of the portrait to Leonardo da Vinci but what remains indisputable is the fact that at one moment in history this piece of art became the fervent obsession of the Nazi dictator himself and should the work have ever fallen into the Nazi's hands how would such a work have inspired the dictator to an alternative course of events. Helen of troy had a face that launched a thousand ships. Such sources of inspiration in men's minds become the sources of pride and passion and historical conflict.

Reflections on art by Pieter Bergli

See also - https://www.pinterest.com/myartmusings/

For those readers that may enjoy a decent coffee anecdote or tale then please turn to my other blog for some interesting reading and my coffee narrative -   http://thegenteelworldofcoffee.blogspot.com/    

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