A digitised version of Ritratto di Musico (Portrait of a Musician) by Leonardo da Vinci
(Picture: Unit London)A London gallery is launching the first exhibition to showcase physical NFT artworks of iconic Italian masterpieces in the UK.
Unit London, based in Mayfair, will showcase six masterworks by the likes of da Vinci, Caravaggio and Modigliani in digital form from February 16 to March 19.
Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are digital assets that represent real-world objects such as art, music and videos.
They are bought and sold online – often with cryptocurrency – and are popular in the art market.
NFTs use the same blockchain technology utilised to create digital currencies such as bitcoin and Ethereum.
The exhibition, titled Eternalising Art History, features Italian masterpieces including Francesco Hayez’s “The Kiss” and Amedeo Modigliani’s “Head of a Young Lady.
Joe Kennedy, director of Unit London, said: “Since its inception, Unit London has been dedicated to spearheading innovation in the industry and exploring ways that art can bridge the cap between physical and virtual experience, for the benefit of artists and audiences alike.
“We are delighted to present Eternalising Art History as a first of its kind – truly breaking new ground.
“We are entering a brave new world and it’s exciting to find opportunities for blockchain technology to generate audiences, revenue and footfall for the museums that care for these masterpieces – which is why 50 per cent of net sales go directly to the institution in support of the conservation of these cultural icons.”
