by Jon Lackman | 29 March 2007 | Renaissance
Nature reports on a new interpretation of Piero della Francesca’s Flagellation: “Piero planned his paintings down to the last detail, and this meticulously executed scene contains several mysteries, particularly the identities of the three men on the right. Countless attempts have been made to name them … A leading historian of science now believes he has historical evidence that can identify all the mysterious figures at a stroke. David King, director of the Institute for the History of Science in Frankfurt, Germany, says that his interpretation reveals new mathematical features that push our understanding of Piero’s geometrical vision beyond anything thought to have been achieved at the time … Controversially, King’s smoking gun is not a manuscript but a scientific instrument, and its meaning is buried deep within a mind-boggling code. If he is right, the painting can be seen as one of the most ingenious hidden messages of all time. Although some scholars cautiously welcome his ideas, art historians are notably less impressed. King pushes his theory to its limits, and his bullish claims have angered some. King thinks the reluctance to accept his work results from a culture clash between mathematical expertise and art history … Art historians counter that King has been too quick to disregard criteria they have developed to guide legitimate enquiry into such enigmatic artworks … King is careful to describe his ideas as a ‘hypothesis’. But he argues that his interpretation fits with what is known, and solves many of the mysteries surrounding the painting. ‘It’s one of the most spectacular discoveries in the history of science,’ he says. Many disagree. Some art historians have dismissed the idea entirely, describing it to Nature as ‘nonsensical’, ‘embarrassing’ and ‘utter rubbish’ … For more information on King’s theory.”
