Leonardo da Vinci. The Restoration of the Century

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Description

Leonardo da Vinci's Virgin and Child with Saint Anne had already been disfigured by attempts at repairs when the controversial decision was made in 2009 to once again attempt a clean-up and refurbishing. Complicating the decision was the fact that da Vinci had never finished the painting, but returned to it year after year to modify it. Could a restoration remain true to da Vinci's intentions? Might the masterpiece be further damaged by trying to save it? And would the public accept a newly-bright version of a work they'd come to know as dark and mysterious? This program goes behind the scenes of the Louvre's three-year restoration project, showing the delicate operation being carried out even as experts debate its risks. Viewers learn about various refurbishing techniques with the help of animations and close-ups, and discover important details about da Vinci's process with Virgin and Child that layers of grime had buried.