Talk: Martin Kemp at the Oxford Literary Festival

One of the world’s leading experts on Leonardo da Vinci Professor Martin Kemp looks back on his 50-year association with the artist on the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, including encounters with characters ranging from great academics to devious dealers and fantasists.

Kemp has seen it all during his 50 years of research, including being bombarded by non-Leonardos and having to walk a fine line between vested interests in academia and museums. He played a part in the identification of the stolen Buccleuch Madonna and his theories have had a major impact on Leonardo discoveries of the last 100 years.

Kemp is emeritus research professor in the history of art at the University of Oxford and author of Living with Leonardo. Here he talks to FT journalist Laura Battle.

This event is part of Italian day at the Oxford Literary Festival.

Image: ‘Mona Lisa’, c. 1503–14, Paris, Louvre