The first previously unknown work by Leonardo Da Vinci to be discovered in a hundred years, a 13-by-10-inch chalk, ink and pencil drawing being called "La Bella Principessa," has been identified via fingerprint evidence. Using forensic technology, a Montreal-based forensic art expert has matched a fingerprint and palm print on the work to that of Leonardo Da Vinci, who apparently left fingerprints on many of his art works. The unsigned drawing had previously been attributed to a 19th Century German artist, until a collector purchased it on suspicion that it looked older than that and that it looked like Da Vinci's work. Experts now believe it is a portrait of the daughter of a 15th Century Milanese duke, and it was basically being used to pimp her out to prospective suitors -- not unlike profile pictures people use today to sell themselves on internet dating sites.
New Da Vinci Artwork Discovered
Elsewhere In The Ist-A-Verse
LAist is flashing a sad peace out to their editor Carolyn Kellogg with one hand and bumping knuckles with their new head typist L.A. blogger king Tony Pierce with the other.
Bay Area Blog Round-Up
season finale. Is it really ethical to end the season with that many pregnancies? Alison gets in a little ethical pickle about hookers and Amsterdam, and ponders why it bothers her so much. Meanwhile, Christina decided she needed to do something to break out of a funk and comes perilously close to enlightenment. One of the meditation tricks we've used over the years is to meditate on petting a dog. Not actually owning a dog, because it wouldn't have enough space to roam free, and we'd invariably yell at it for things that weren't its fault, but just meditating on the idea of a dog, the acceptance of a dog. It helps. And that's why we love Dog Blog, still vicariously filling our need for a furry four-legger.
We Read The Weeklies
Last week's winner, the East Bay Express: Vote for SFist in the EBX Readers' Poll! We love the chicken holding a sword with its foot in this week's Dream Comic. A company that puts prank pink flamingos on people's lawns (called "Flamingo Surprise"). Cover article: The Coup, along with that picture of their album with the World Trade Center blowing up. Rob Harvilla tells us his departure for the Village Voice isn't us, it's him. Good luck out there on the cold East Coast, Rob! Have fun with Christgau! Lit section. Hyphy hyphy hyphy hyphy hyphy. And SFist Eve's horoscope: she's going to "find the passion to unite what at first glance seems like an unlikely gathering of associates." That's us over here at SFist!
The SF Weekly: Vote for SFist in the SF Weekly Readers' Poll! The Apologist on the 1906 festivities, titled "Ready to Rumble." ("Honestly, I'm disgusted. This is a time to be celebrating earthquakes, not studying them." Ha!). Sucka Free City columnist (male) gives birth on Second Life. It's a girl! Cover article: Jewel thieves. Book section: The guilty pleasure of the Da Vinci Code. SFIFF. Meredith eats French! Good thing Ced's away, as we expect he was driven to heights of fury by the part where Meredith asks why a confit of rabbit isn't the same as a rabbit terrine. (We don't know the difference but we're sure our Gastronome does!). And Dan Savage infuriates bisexuals again.
The Guardian and the Metro, after the jump, along with the Weekly of the Week.
The War Memorial Code
destroying whatever acting cred he has left. Tucked away in some random corner inside a wood display case at the San Francisco War Memorial is a fabric that experts are beginning to think is the first Filipino flag. And try saying that ten times fast.

