Post by Bruker Art & Conservation

What if one of Leonardo’s masterpieces had almost been something entirely different? Beneath Virgin of the Rocks lies an abandoned composition — invisible to the eye, but not to modern imaging. Early infrared studies hinted at a hidden design, but questions remained about what Leonardo originally intended. Years later, micro-XRF mapping with the Bruker M6 JETSTREAM revealed far more than expected. Elemental maps uncovered traces of figures arranged in a radically different relationship, offering a rare glimpse into an artist’s changing mind. By combining XRF, infrared reflectography, and hyperspectral imaging, scientists are not just analysing materials — they are reconstructing creative decisions that were never meant to be seen. 👉 Discover what the painting might have been on our website: https://lnkd.in/edzCeXgA #ArtConservation #HeritageScience #microXRF #LeonardoDaVinci #M6JETSTREAM