London- The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci has confused the world for centuries, and it still has more hidden secrets. Debates over this famous drawing, the identity of the woman with the wide smile, and the possibility of finding other preparatory sketches for it are incessant.

Reuters reported on Saturday that a French art expert believes a charcoal drawing kept in a collection for more than 150 years may be a preparatory sketch made by Leonardo da Vinci of the Mona Lisa.

The black-and-white drawing of a woman, nude from the waist up, known as the “Monna Vanna”, was previously attributed to Leonardo’s studio, suggesting it was done in his style by a pupil or follower, not by the master himself.

But after preliminary tests at the Louvre Museum, experts believe the sketch may well have been drawn by Leonardo.

The Museum’s curator Mathieu Deldicque said among the signs are the fact the drawing was made during the same period as the Mona Lisa, the paper is from the same region of Italy, and the technique is very similar to that of the Mona Lisa.

Deldicque told reporters: “We know the drawing was made during the lifetime of Leonardo da Vinci, we know that the paper was made in Italy, between Venice and Florence, and the third discovery is the high quality of this drawing in the face of the Monna Vanna and in her arms. That’s very interesting because the arms are the same as the Mona Lisa‘s.”

Leonardo, who lived from 1452 to 1519, was an engineer, scientist, inventor and sculptor, as well as one of the finest artists of the Italian Renaissance.

He painted the Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda and regarded as the world’s most valuable artwork, at the beginning of the 16th century. It is believed to depict Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a successful merchant.

The charcoal portrait, in which the woman is holding a similar pose to the Mona Lisa but with her body more side-on and her head turned further over her left shoulder, has been held in a collection at the Conde Museum at the Palace of Chantilly, north of Paris, since 1862.

Deldicque explained that while it was exciting to think the charcoal drawing was created by Leonardo, there were more tests to be done. He added: “We have one more month of analysis and then a very slow process of history of art with a collection of analysts and advice by specialists,”
It is possible that process will determine that the authorship is the same. But it may also be inconclusive, he noted, adding: “Maybe the mystery will remain.”