"Marciano" Topic

"In the 15th century, Florence was the focal point of a cultural rebirth known famously as the Italian Renaissance. Their newfound economic and cultural power, coupled with the strong leadership of Cosimo de Medici of the Medici family, found Florence on the precipice of domination. With Cosimo I de Medici leading the way, Florence embarked on controlling its neighbors either through diplomacy or force, all under the name of the Duchy of Tuscany. There was one city-state remaining in the region that stood a chance against the growing power of the Duchy, and that was Siena. There was also a broader conflict between France and Spain that instigated the fighting. France supported Siena, because it wanted a strong ally on the Italian peninsula, and Spain supported Florence because of its wealth and its control over the majority of Tuscany, which Spain wanted a hand in. On August 2nd 1551, a Florentine militia faced Sienese militia in the Battle of Marciano, the fight for control of the region. With each army reaching about 15,000 in number, the stage was set for a bloody day, but Florence won a sweeping victory, as their superior artillery simply overpowered the men of Siena and their allies. The Sienese suffered many losses in the form of death, wounds, and prisoners, while the Florentines, relatively speaking, did not lose many men. The battle undeniably had a great collective effect on the shaping of both cities well within the grips of the Renaissance. One of the tangible products of this effect plays a very important role in Robert Langdon's quest in Dan Brown's Inferno. The day of the battle, as a trophy of sorts, the Florentine soldiers collected over 100 green flags that the Sienese had been given by French royalty as a sign of support. After the battle was over, Cosimo I had Giorgio Vasari paint a large mural commemorating the battle inside a governmental Palace in Florence, the Hall of Five Hundred. Giorgio Vasari's depiction of the Battle of Marciano hangs in that spot to this day. This painting, one of the best artistic achievements of the Renaissance, provides Langdon and Dr. Siena Brooks (who's name is not a mere coincidence) with a major clue hidden within the painting. The phrase "cerca trova", Latin for, "Seek and ye shall find", can be seen on a green flag (one of the green flags the Florentines had seized) within the painting…."
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Amicalement
Armand

Some experts believe that there is an unknown Da Vinci painting behind that paiting. Afaik any research was as yet inconclusive, which also means that the idea cannot be rejected. There is indeed a space behind the actual wall – any more informative research may, however, damage Vasaries painting, while the chance of getting anything worth staring at is pretty low even IF there is an old painting walled in 500 years ago. Imho the world needs some unsolved mysteries :-)

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand