In 1978, da Vinci scholar Carlo Pedretti discovered a drawing of a handbag designed by Leonardo da Vinci around 1497.
Fashion house Gherardini, which was founded in 1886, had the bag designed and recreated. It is named Pretiosa, which means precious. Here is a video of it being handmade by an artisan.
Leonardo was commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa Gherardini in1503. It took him so long to paint that he gave up the commission in 1506, although he continued working on it for the rest of his life. We know this painting as the Mona Lisa. Lisa Gherardini's relatives founded the fashion house who just had this bag recreated! What an amazing "common thread"!
Fashion house Gherardini, which was founded in 1886, had the bag designed and recreated. It is named Pretiosa, which means precious. Here is a video of it being handmade by an artisan.
Leonardo was commissioned to paint a portrait of Lisa Gherardini in1503. It took him so long to paint that he gave up the commission in 1506, although he continued working on it for the rest of his life. We know this painting as the Mona Lisa. Lisa Gherardini's relatives founded the fashion house who just had this bag recreated! What an amazing "common thread"!