The Testament Was a Forgery

In October 2023, Professor Pierre Bertier discovers a disturbing absence in the French royal archives: no trace of the naturalization letters that Leonardo da Vinci should have obtained to bequeath his property. Without this document, the droit d'aubaine (right of escheat) imposed the confiscation of all his possessions by the French crown upon his death in 1519, including the famous painting "La Joconde" (the Mona Lisa).Based on true facts, this historical novel reconstructs the fateful night when Francesco Melzi and Salai, Leonardo's disciples, stole major works before the royal inventory, then fabricated a false testament to justify their possession.Bertier's account reveals how this deception has endured for five centuries. This novel, at the crossroads of historical thriller and scientific investigation, questions the boundary between crime and heroism: were Melzi and Salai thieves or the saviors of priceless heritage? The author Robert Casanovas is an honorary agrege professor and member of the Societe des Gens de Lettres. A jurist passionate about the history of art collections, he has devoted many years to studying the appropriation of artworks by states. President of the NGO International Restitutions, he has published numerous academic works on the subject.