A DRAWING of a young woman bought at auction for £stg11,000 and thought to be the work of an unknown artist has been attributed by several experts to Leonardo da Vinci, rocketing its potential value to £stg100 million ($208 million) or more. If confirmed, it would be the first work to be attributed to Leonardo since the Lady with an Ermine was identified as his work in the early 19th century. Mr Silverman was the first to spot Leonardo’s hand in the drawing when the owner, who was showing him his collection last year, pulled the work out of the drawer. Geddo said the sitter’s hairstyle, with the hair braided into a single plait, and details known as "Leonardesque knots" on the border of her dress tie the drawing "securely" to his time in Milan in the late 15th century. Alessandro Vezzosi, director of the Museo Ideale museum in the artist’s birthplace of Vinci, near Florence, has included the work in his monograph Leonardo Infinito, published this month.

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