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ART & SYMBOLS

Did Leonardo Da Vinci Leave Clues To His Beliefs Hidden in His Art?

Dan Brown's main characters—Robert Langdon, Sophie Neveu, and Leigh Teabing—are experts at deciphering codes and interpreting symbols. This is one of the most compelling aspects of the novel. The book accurately points out that Leonardo was known to have used reverse text (which could be read with a mirror) for some of his "progressive theories on astronomy, geology, archaeology, and hydrology" (p.300, DVC). Yet his "secrets" were probably more scientific than religious. Leonardo was among the Renaissance scientists who had to be careful not to raise suspicion that their theories were challenging established church doctrine on creation.

Brown, however, uses the fact of Da Vinci's reverse-style scientific essays to suggest that Leonardo also left clues in his artwork about secret religious beliefs, which if known would have changed the public's acceptance of his work. In The Da Vinci Code, the great artist is portrayed as a goddess worshiper who left clues in his artwork to let us know that his views of Christ were not in line with the teachings of the church.

But how believable is this claim? Art critics who have no interest in defending the church have rejected the notion. Authorities in the art world believe that the "hidden clues" to Leonardo's secret faith exist only in the imagination of those looking to make a conspiracy theory plausible (see: Bruce Boucher, "Does The Da Vinci Code Crack Leonardo?" The New York Times, 8/3/03; Sian Gibby, "Mrs. God," Slate, 11/3/03. For an excellent treatment of analyzing symbols in Leonardo's work, see pages 68-75 of The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code by Richard Abanes).