VOA慢速英语2019--达芬奇加入著名的左撇子名单

Add Leonardo da Vinci to List of Famous Lefties

In May, the world will mark 500 years since the death of Leonardo da Vinci.

Art galleries and museums are preparing shows to honor¹ the life and works² of the artist they call Leonardo, who died in France on May 2, 1519. He is remembered as one of the greatest artists and creative thinkers of all time. Among his most famous paintings are The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Recently, researchers were studying what they think is da Vinci’s earliest-known artwork. They used special lighting³ to study the work and discovered there were two images, not one. One drawing was on the back of the piece, which is dated August 5, 1473.

The drawing on the front, made when Leonardo was 21 years old, shows a river valley and a castle outside the city of Florence. There is little left of the drawing on the back, perhaps because it was rubbed off. Only a bridge over a river can be seen. But there is writing on both sides.

The writing on the front gives the date and goes from right to left. Some people would call this “mirror-writing.” Leonardo often wrote this way in his notebooks. On the back, the handwriting goes from left to right, and tells about an agreement, probably to produce a work of art.

Cecilia Frosinini is an art historian⁴. She said, “Leonardo was born left-handed, but was taught to write with his right hand from a very young age. By looking at his writings, including from this drawing, one can see his right-handed calligraphy⁵ is educated and well done.”

Experts compared the two handwriting samples and said they were both made by Leonardo. They show he could write well using both his left hand and his right hand.

The drawing is known as “Landscape 8P” from its number in an art catalog⁶. It will be part of an exhibit⁷ at Italy’s Uffizi Gallery. The gallery director, Eike Schmidt, said the drawing gives art experts a new way of looking at Leonardo’s drawing technique and his abilities in writing.

“It is a real revolution in the field of Leonardo studies,” he said.

I’m Jill Robbins.

Words in This Story

museum – n. a building in which objects of artistic⁸, scientific or cultural interest can be seen

gallery – n. a room or building where works of art can be seen

castle – n. a large building, usally with thick walls

calligraphy – n. beautiful writing or handwritten lettering

catalog – n. a complete list of things, such as works of art

exhibit – n. a public showing

1 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

4 historian   

n.历史学家，编史家

参考例句：

• As a historian,he was most typical of the times in which he lived.作为历史学家，他是他所处时代最有代表性的人物。
• He calls himself a historian,but his books are a mere journalism.他自称为历史学家，但是他的书都是些肤浅的通俗作品。

5 calligraphy   

n.书法

参考例句：

• At the calligraphy competition,people asked him to write a few characters.书法比赛会上，人们请他留字。
• His calligraphy is vigorous and forceful.他的书法苍劲有力。

6 catalog   

n.目录(册)vt.将…编入目录，将…编目

参考例句：

• Can you catalog all these books?你能给所有这些书编目录吗？
• You can look for the book in the library catalog.你可以在图书馆的图书目录上查找这本书。

7 exhibit   

vt.展览，展出，陈列；n.展览品；陈列品

参考例句：

• Next week those goods will exhibit in that shop. 下个星期，这些货物将在那家商店展出。
• The economy continued to exhibit signs of decline in September.9月份，经济继续呈现出衰退的迹象。

8 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。