An Interesting Theory
In 1943, the founder of Phaidon Press, Ludwig Goldscheider published LdV: The Artist
In December 1513, Leonardo came to Rome and made his abode and his studio at the Belvedere of the Vatican.
In the same year there was found near the Church of Santa Maria della Minerva, the colossal marble group
of the "Nile", which was brought to the Belvedere. The group was much damaged and of the sixteen children
playing around the reclining river-god, hardly anything was left but a few legs. The antique group was
restored at the Belvedere and all of the children added. I (Ludwig Goldscheider) reproduce here three of them *
together with some representations of children drawn by Leonardo. I think a comparison of these illustrations
will make it clear why I believe that the antique group was restored in Leonardo's studio.
* - The three children are at the foot of the reclining river-god; pictures above.
