The search for the true identity of the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci continues to fascinate scholars and art enthusiasts from all over the world and the episode of the television program “Freedom” , which aired on 6 March 2023 on Italia 1, is was set in Bobbio. The conductor Roberto Giacobbo went to the famous village to examine a new theory on the Mona Lisa advanced by some researchers. An opportunity to explore the small village and the surrounding area, looking for clues and possible confirmations of the theory.
A group of scientists would have confirmed the presence of Leonardo da Vinci in Pierfrancesco di Gropparello, near Bobbio. This reinforces the theory that the Mona Lisa’s background was inspired by the Bobbio area, seen from the Malaspina Dal Verme castle. Studies conducted on the ichnofossils present in the area have shown that the same shapes in the stone were studied and reproduced by Leonardo in the Leicester Codex. Leonardo, to portray them in the sketches, would in fact have easily reached them by mounting a donkey.
In his vineyard in Milan, Leonardo also cultivated the aromatic candia malvasia, typical of the Val Tidone, this would demonstrate Leonardo’s broad interest in the Bobbio and Val Trebbia area also linked to agriculture and the cultivation of vines. The discovery of Leonardo’s presence in Pierfrancesco di Gropparello opens up new research perspectives on the life and work of the Italian artist.
The episode can be viewed at the following link: Freedom – fourth episode
