Codex Atlanticus yields new insights into Leonardo da Vinci’s works

One of the largest and most interesting collections of Leonardo da Vinci’s writings and paintings is the Codex Atlanticus.

For academics and researchers, maintaining this important body of work presents a significant challenge.

Back in 2006, tiny black stains were found on the passe-partout (a type of mounting), which surrounds the panel that frames and ties the folio. Museum curators and academics have been quite concerned about this phenomenon of blackening, which has been seen on about 210 pages of the Codex, starting with folio 600.

To determine the cause of the stains, the Politecnico…