DA VINCI ART OF ILLUSION: SECRETS TO SEEING HIDDEN IMAGES REVEALED!

STUDY SKETCHES:  LEONARDO DA VINCI

HORSE AND RIDER

   LEONARDO, you magnificent genius!  How in the world did you do this?  This is a wonderful example as to why, when it comes to LEONARDO DA VINCI, you never stop looking or thinking that you've seen it all.  Or that you could ever discover something new or equally amazing as you think you have allready seen!  And when you're quite sure there's nothing there...  Look again!

   You could call this illusion, "THE FADE IN" because that is exactly what it does!  It just... FADES IN!  Simply pick an area on the sketch above, sit back from your computer screen just a bit and stare at that area!  JUST KEEP STARING! 

Example:   A close up of the upper right hand corner. Stare at the horse's eye, suddenly the distinct image of a left profile comes into focus, that seems to fade in from nowhere!  The entire sketch is covered in layer after layer of these hidden images.   

Update November 2007:  I've received a number of emails saying you're having some trouble with this illusion.  Thanks for understanding I didn't want to spoil the "thrill of discovery."  But from the number of emails I've received I promise I'll actually outline some of the hidden images for you asap.  Thanks for the feed back and all of your kind comments.

  Okay, as promised here are a few outlined examples and may it yet again be duely noted that I am an artist, but the old fashion kind leaving my graphic skills sadly lacking.

Left profile of face outlined.  A few more further down. 

   The longer you stare at this sketch from different angles the greater the illusion becomes!  It's covered in hidden images of animal and human faces.  They appear in all shapes and sizes, with new amazing images appearing each time you adjust your focus or angle of viewing!  This is an incredibly simple yet, absolutely amazing illusion!  There seems to be no end to the images, I still find something new every single time I look at it! 

Close up of rider's head.  How many faces do you see?  I see at least 3.

Large caricature profile of a gorillia's head.

Staring at the horses nose, do you see the image of the gorillia outlined above?

Then by just tilting my head slightly to the left, I see the profile of a face with a long nose.

Upside down view reveals even more hidden images!

Left profile of a face outlined.  Are you beginning to grasp the concept?

   If you're not seeing exactly what I'm describing, try backing away from the sketch and looking at it from different angles!  We tend to want to get closer to see something, but I find I see much more staring at it from a distance.  I also, highly recomment you try placing a mirror at a right angle to your computer screen and stare in the mirror at these different sketches or any of DA VINCI'S art work!  Anyone who's ever read or heard much at all about DA VINCI, knows he had a thing about mirrors.  I promise, once you really grasp the concept of this illusion, you won't believe the number of hidden images you'll find!  It just takes a little practise and you'll be experiencing this wonderful hidden world of LEONARDO DA VINCI.

* Rotated.  Each new angle continues to reveal all new images!  If you click on image for a larger view, allow yourself plenty of distance!

Large smiling face outlined.

Reverse image and try tilting your head to the left then the right and all new images slowly begin to reveal themselves.   

* Rotate again and the hidden images seem to never end!

Ready to try a few more?

THREE STUDY SKETCHES FOR THE LAST SUPPER

HEAD OF ST. PHILIP

   The next 3 sketches have a similar, but slightly different illusion.  At first it doesn't look like you have much to work with; however, pick a spot where there seems to be nothing at all and just keep staring at it!  Slowly you'll begin to see faint images growing darker and clearer.

Right profile of a face outlined.

*And just in case you need any help whatsoever, here is a close up of what seems to be nothing, just pick a spot and keep staring intently at it!  I think this effect is much easier to see in the smaller images, unless you're using a mirror, so if you click on an image for a larger view you really should stand a few feet away in order to see clearly all the images that will slowly begin to grow darker and clearer the longer you stare at it!  Slowly you'll begin to see distinct images ranging from animal and human faces, numbers, letters, symbols, etc.! (* Larger view available.)     

*Rotated close up view.  When images become more recognizable, try looking from slightly different angles, tilting your head from one side then the other and amazingly you'll see even more!  Remember, a mirror set to one side of your computer screen allows distance and different viewing angles, which may really help as well!

HEAD OF BARTHOLEMEW

Just keep staring! 

*Rotated close up view.  Keep staring and trying different angles and distances.  This is so incredibly amazing!

*Another rotated close up view.  The longer you keep staring at an area, the darker and clearer an image becomes.

HEAD OF JUDAS

  Now this one gets a bit more complicated.  And may really try your patience as far as trying to grasp just what all these images are exactly!

I couldn't resist the urge to see if I could get a better view by making a few lighting adjustments.  However, it seems the more adjustments I make, the more bizarre the images become! 

Given enough viewing distance this angle reveals even more hidden images, though there's still something very disturbing about this sketch all together.  I wonder if that is indeed the exact emotion DA VINCI intended to evoke, from a sketch of Judas?

FOR THE KNEELING LEDA

   If you've begun to grasp the concept of illusion being employed by DA VINCI, hopefully these examples will enable you to experience the many different variations and styles of images, which are hidden throughout his entire body of work.  As you make your way through my site, you'll discover that I examine many more techniques and equally amazing illusions.

Each and every angle continues to reveal countless new images!

Allow yourself a few moments to adjust to new angles, staring intently as the new images begin to reveal themselves.

Upside down view.  Don't forget to stare at what appears to be empty background space!  Amazingly, hidden images will begin to emerge!

HEAD OF A YOUNG WOMAN

Each of these sketches share a very similar illusion, though each seems to have it's own unique quality. 

Upside down view.

* Rotated view.  I've said before that I believe you could easily spend a life time and never quite find all that LEONARDO DA VINCI has left for us to discover!  Are you beginning to see what I mean?  

   If you're new to my site, this is an extremely easy illusion to begin with.  But, you may want to pace yourself!  There is no way you'll make it through my entire site in one sitting!  TIME, DISTANCE, ANGLES and PATIENCE are a must!  LEONARDO DA VINCI has employed a wide range of techniques and illusions in skillfully hiding countless images in every single work of art that I have seen so far!  Some of his techniques can seem impossible to see at first.  The very best advise, is just sit back and keep looking!  With most illusions I do attempt to point out, trace, outline and/or anything else I can do to help you see exactly what I'm talking about.  I had not intended on doing as much as I have, simply because I didn't want to spoil the thrill of discovery.  However, I found viewers were really having trouble seeing everything I was seeing.  But, I can assure you there is still so, so much more left for you to discover!  And please don't get discouraged if you don't see things immediately, because you just may discover that what was impossible for you to see this time, is suddenly crystal clear the next!

STUDY OF THE HEAD OF A GIRL   (Believed to be for, VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS)

Even to the left of her where there seems to be nothing at all, given enough time, very distinct images begin to appear.  What has become known as the infamous "R" can be seen beginning at the top, of the back, of her head to her shoulders. 

Letter "R" outlined.

* Reversed view darkened.  Side angle view from a mirror helps a lot with these.  Just keep staring.

* Rotated.  Remember, distance, angles, time and patience.

 * Upside down. 

   It is really amazing that something so simple could in fact hold such an incredible secret for so long!

Republished from archives.

Main page:  http://www.n2davinciandbeyond.com/

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[Rob ten Berge]

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The Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris has a CROSS in her
hand.