Aidan Turner has been pictured kissing a male co-star on the set of new historical drama, Leonardo.
The actor plays Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci in the new series, which is set to explore the life of the painter.
There has long been debate whether the painter was homosexual, a theme that is set to be explored in the upcoming series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leonardo will ‘unlock the mystery’ behind Da Vinci’s genius as well as explore a tantalising secret in his life.
Kissing: Aidan Turner has been pictured kissing a male co-star on the set of new historical drama, Leonardo
Born in 1452, Leonardo is one of the greatest individuals of the last millennium, known primarily for his contributions to the art world, including paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
During the Rennaisance he dabbled in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography.
The artist left no clue as to his own sexuality. He never married and it cannot be stated with certainty that he had a sexually intimate relationship with any person, male or female.
Despite this, speculation over his sexuality has been long debated, and it has long been claimed that he was in a same-sex relationship with his apprentice, Gian Giacomo Caprotti, better known by his nickname Salai.
Caprotti is thought to have entered Da Vinci’s household when he was around 10 years old, and worked as his assistant for the next 20 years acquiring the nickname Salai, or Little Devil.
One to watch: Aidan plays Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci in the new series, which is set to explore the life of the painter
Salai was used in a number of Da Vinci’s paintings as a model and it has even been suggested that Salai was the subject of his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa.
Art detective Silvano Vinceti has said the portrait, which hangs in the Louvre in Paris, is an amalgamation of a Florentine merchant’s wife and Da Vinci’s possible gay lover.
Vinceti, the head of a research group called the National Committee of Cultural Heritage, based his findings on an infra-red examination of the famous painting.
It was previously thought that the picture was based on Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a merchant from Tuscany.
Wow: The star is best known for his portrayal of Ross Poldark in the iconic BBC drama – which ran from 2015-2019
In the series, Aidan stars alongside The Undoing’s Matilda De Angelis playing Da Vinci’s famous muse Caterina da Cremona, as well as Giancarlo Giannini playing artist Andrea del Verrocchio.
WHO WAS LEONARDO DA VINCI?
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, more commonly Leonardo da Vinci or simply Leonardo, is one of the greatest individuals of the last millenium.
The poly math was a driving force behind the Renaissance and dabbled in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography.
He has been attributed with the development of the parachute, helicopter and tank.
He was born in what is modern-day Italy in 1452 and died at the age of 67 in France.
After being born out of wedlock the visionary worked in Milan, Rome, Bologna and Venice.
His most recognisable works include the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, Vitruvian Man.
Another piece of artwork, dubbed the Salvator Mundi, sold for a world record $450.3 million (£343 million) at a Christie’s auction in New York in 2017.
Leonardo was created by The Man In The High Castle showrunner Frank Spotnitz and Sherlock writer Steve Thompson, the show will be directed by Daniel Percival and Alexis Sweet.
Speaking about the show, Frank, whose company Big Light Productions is co-producing the drama, admitted it was ‘both a challenge and an honour’ to portray Da Vinci’s life on the silver screen.
In a statement, he said: ‘It’s both a challenge and an honour to dramatize the life of one of the most fascinating people who ever lived.
‘Leonardo is constantly surprising, and despite his fame remains an enigma more than 500 years after his death.
‘We’ve uncovered sometimes little-noticed clues about Leonardo’s life and pieced them together in a puzzle that attempts to reveal the humanity behind the genius.’
While Luca Bernabei, CEO of Lux Vide who have produced the drama, added in his own statement: ‘Leonardo’s story invites us to believe in humanity, in its extraordinary abilities and the possibility of looking to the future beyond those horizons that today appear as overwhelming obstacles.’
Leonardo will launch on Amazon Prime Video in the UK and Ireland on Friday 16th April 2021.
The new images come following claims Aidan secretly ‘married’ girlfriend Caitlin Fitzgerald in a secret ceremony in Italy.
The Sun reports the actor tied the knot with American actress Caitlin, 38, as filming concluded on Leonardo back in August.
The couple – who started dating in 2018 – were said to be eager to wed as soon as their schedules allowed but kept the ceremony quiet due to their private nature.
A source said: ‘The couple are both madly in love and couldn’t wait to get hitched when their schedules allowed.
‘They’re both very private and have kept the ceremony very much under wraps, but he has been seen taking lockdown walks with his wedding ring on show.
‘Aidan hasn’t been in a rush to get wed and has very much been waiting for ‘The One’ to come along — and anyone who sees them knows they’re the perfect match.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for comment.
Aidan won fans all over the world with his portrayal of the hunky Ross Poldark in the iconic drama, alongside his love interest Eleanor Tomlinson.
The show concluded after five series in 2019 – with Aidan wowing fans with his brooding persona and hunky shirtless scything scenes.
Caitlin is best known for her role in US drama, Masters Of Sex from 2013-2016.
She played Libby Masters, the wife of sex therapist Dr William Masters, played by Michael Sheen – who she dated.
Newlyweds: The new images come following claims Aidan secretly ‘married’ girlfriend Caitlin Fitzgerald in a secret ceremony in Italy after filming Leonardo (pictured 2019)