Astana, Jun 6 (EFE).- The famous portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci, La Bella Principessa, also known as ‘Portrait of Bianca Sforza,’ ‘Young Girl in Profile in Renaissance Dress,’ and ‘Portrait of a Young Fiancée,’ was exhibited Thursday at the National Museum of Astana, Kazakhstan, for the first time in the country’s history.
“Kazakhs have the opportunity to closely admire masterpieces like ‘La Bella Principessa.’ I want to emphasize that it is an original, not a copy. For Astana, it is a great honor to have this remarkable work by the legendary painter,” Shaira Pakhim, a resident of Astana, told EFE.
“This is a historic event occurring for the first time in the history of Central Asia,” she added.
‘La Bella Principessa’ is one of the most mysterious and valuable works of the famous Italian artist: it is a portrait of a young aristocrat drawn in the late 15th century, the only one drawn on parchment.
The artwork, initially misattributed to a German painter from the early 19th century, was auctioned in 1998 by American collector Peter Silverman, who established the true authorship of the piece thanks to the discovery of a fingerprint on the drawing identical to Da Vinci’s.
The arrival of this masterpiece in Kazakhstan was made possible through the efforts of the Italian Embassy in Astana, the Scripta Maneant publishing house, the Italian Institute of Culture, and the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information.
‘La Bella Principessa’ will be on display for Kazakhs and city visitors until August 7.
“Promoting culture is a powerful engine that drives the dialogue between Italy and Kazakhstan. Leonardo embodies the Renaissance man, a timeless icon of talent, genius, and creation,” Marco Alberti, the Italian ambassador in Astana, told EFE.
According to the diplomat, the exhibition of this work in Astana “is a unique opportunity to strengthen cooperation between our countries.”
“It is a privilege to have, for the first time in Central Asia and Kazakhstan, Leonardo da Vinci’s European Renaissance art, within the wonderful setting of the National Museum,” his Spanish counterpart, Jorge Urbiola, told EFE.
The Spanish diplomat noted that “since travelers like Marco Polo or the ambassador of Castile, Rui González de Clavijo, arrived in this part of the world, visitors have come here sporadically over the centuries, so it is a pleasure to host a great universal and Renaissance artist in Kazakhstan.” EFE