**ALL ROUND PICTURES FROM SOLARPIX.COM** **WORLDWIDE SYNDICATION RIGHTS EXCEPT SPAIN - NO SYNDICATION IN SPAIN** Caption: A painting thought to be the earliest copy of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and painted by one of his students alongside the original has been discovered in Madrid's Prado museum, giving a fresh insight into what the model for one of the world's most famous paintings actually looked like.The Prado painting was long thought to be one of dozens surviving replicas of the masterpiece made after Leonardo's death but it is now believed to have been painted by one of his key pupils working alongside the master.The Louvre original, displayed behind glass, is obscured by cracked darkened varnish, making the woman appear much older than her true age. Because of its fragility, cleaning and restoration is thought to be too risky..But art historians believe the Prado's Mona Lisa which is in the process of being painstakingly stripped of a dark over-paint reveals her as she would have looked at the time.. JOB REF: 14409 DMS/Delores DATE: 01.02.201201.02.2012 **MUST CREDIT SOLARPIX.COM OR DOUBLE FEE WILL BE CHARGED** **MUST AGREE FEE BEFORE ONLINE USAGE** **CALL US ON: +34 952 811 768 or LOW RATE FROM UK 0844 617 7637**