Richard Moshe, general manager of Art Foundation Magazine, Inc., announced that the art world has lost one of its greatest treasures in the person of Carlo Pedretti. The preeminent Italian art historian in the world and the foremost expert on Leonardo da Vinci has died at the age of 90. A native of Bologna, he died after a sudden illness at his villa just outside Pistoia, Italy.
At the time of his death, Pedretti was working to finalize his work on the painting depicting Lucrezia Crivelli. The artwork was one of the last priceless private paintings by da Vinci and one of the few that the renowned artist finished himself. Pedretti was also organizing the sale and management of art exhibitions in China in collaboration with Italian luxury and excellence advisor, Salvo Spagna.
One of Pedretti’s most recent projects was the rediscovered “Salvator Mundi.” Sold at auction by Christie’s and purchased by a Saudi prince for a record $450 million, Pedretti stirred controversy in the art world when he indicated that the “Salvator Mundi” demonstrated da Vinci’s style, but said closer examination was required to ascertain if any part of the painting had actually been completed by one of da Vinci’s students.
One of the art scholar’s most prestigious projects to which he contributed was the 1995 Leonardo da Vinci biography and exhibition tour encompassing 11 countries. During the five months in which it was in Speyer, Germany, more than 340,000 individuals attended the museum exhibit. A total of more than 3 million people have viewed the unique exhibition.
Pedretti developed a passion for da Vinci and his work at an early age and devoted his life to the master. By the age of 13, he’d taught himself to be ambidextrous like da Vinci. Pedretti had purchased a book by Clemente Fusero with a drawing of a mill and exhibiting da Vinci’s mirror writing style. Pedretti emulated the technique and it was a skill he possessed throughout his lifetime.
The scholar’s first article about da Vinci was published in the Corriere della Sera newspaper when he was just 16-years-old, at a time when the leading historians were Longhi, Berenson and Suida At the age of 21, Pedretti was considered the leading authority and scholar on da Vinci’s works and life, with his expertise known around the globe.
In 1957 he published the first catalog of da Vinci drawings collected at the Royal Library in Windsor. A prolific author, among his impressive and inspiring works during his distinguished career was 50 books and more than 700 published articles and essays in multiple languages.
Pedretti’s life wasn’t without controversy and some of his scholarly views were uncomfortable within the established art world. One instance was his acquisition of a wax model of a horse and rider that he determined to be a work by da Vinci painted in 1506-08 and one that he said depicted Carlo D’Amboise, governor of Milan.
The noted da Vinci expert took a scientific approach to art, an attitude that represented a major departure at that time for a classic art historian. It enabled him to ascertain the smallest detail and nuance that may have eluded others. He held numerous honors, awards and accolades from institutions and organizations around the world.
Pedretti’s passion and genius for everything da Vinci encompassed his life, transforming the way experts and art lovers viewed the Renaissance master. As an art scholar and historian, Pedretti was instrumental in the world’s understanding of da Vinci and his artistic brilliance.