Anne Farnsworth, a math and art prodigy, grew up in Hawaii. Her first public art show was a painting exhibition at the age of eleven. In preparatory school, she was chosen as the high school's sterling scholar for work in sculpture. At the University of Puget Sound, she found fertile ground for creative thought, guidance and resources to explore art.
After graduation, she taught herself computer graphics. Curiosity, a driving force, lead her to continue studies in several fields, including the mathematics behind aesthetics and an inexhaustible exploration into historical art.
In 2012, Anne noticed the sketch of Isabella d'Este by Leonardo da Vinci predated and mirrored the famous painting La Joconde, better known in America as the "Mona Lisa." Soon, she discovered satellite photography of Mantua matched the previously unknown landscape in the portrait.
The background Leonardo painted in the famous portrait was Mantua looking North towards the Alps. These lands were ruled by Isabella, the subject in Leonardo's matching sketch. Leading to further certainty of Leonardo's subject, driving her to understand the history of the painting.
Years of research led to the exploration of academic publications, ancient texts, and letters written by Isabella. In addition Anne has worked with art historians, biometric specialists and museum curators to better understand the history of the creation of the painting. Applying an accurate, precise and multifaceted approach to logically solve this mystery.
Patience with the discovery process and surmounting obstacles faced when trying to amend 500 years of an international popular fable. Offering proper credit to Isabella d'Este, otherwise known as the First Lady of the Renaissance, and a greater respect for the master Leonardo da Vinci. Who created an aerial view of Northern Italy through math, long before man would develop his flying machines to lift us from the ground.
anne@isabelladeste.org
