Part one - Wednesday 20 February, 10pm
Part two - Wednesday 27 February, 10pm

Pioneering scientist Dr Maurizio Seracini has adapted the latest medical and military technology to probe the secrets of some of the world's greatest masterpieces, in the face of scepticism from the art history establishment. The Da Vinci Detective follows the controversial scientist on the trail of two fascinating unsolved mysteries from his case file on Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci.

Art meets science and detective story meets documentary in this film, from award-winning Darlow Smithson productions. Forensic scientist Dr Maurizio Seracini has made his name by ingeniously adapting the latest technology to reveal the secrets of great artworks. Now, in this film, he is set to electrify the art world and art lovers everywhere with his extraordinary revelations about his hero, Leonardo Da Vinci. Seracini is on a mission of a lifetime to investigate the unsolved mysteries surrounding two of Leonardo's most famous paintings in this; the ultimate real-life art detective story.

Just like Leonardo, Seracini's knowledge bridges the gap between the worlds of art and science, making him a true 21st Century "Renaissance man". A charismatic and outspoken character, Seracini has won the grudging respect of the art establishment. But as someone who is happy to "put a bomb under art history", he has had to do battle with the gatekeepers of the world's great art works - as this film illustrates.

The first of his cases concerns the mysterious, unfinished, Adoration of the Magi. It's one of the Uffizi Museum's most prized works by Leonardo, with an iconic beauty that draws millions of visitors a year. Given unprecedented access, Seracini trained his forensic equipment onto the brown and aged masterpiece. Using infra-red reflectography and x-ray analysis, his tools enabled him to see underneath layers of paint. Within hours of examining the painting Seracini discovered hidden secrets that would rock the art world. It was revelation so potentially controversial, Seracini felt he had to be careful "to even think too loud".

His second case is the culmination of a thirty year quest; to find the lost Renaissance masterpiece The Battle of Anghiari. Leonardo painted the giant mural in 1440, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio. Da Vinci was 53, and at the height of his powers. At the time it was regarded as the greatest painting of the Renaissance.

Then, mysteriously, it disappeared. Using military grade technology, Seracini set out on a remarkable detective story. The Da Vinci Detective believes he is now within a hair's breadth of finding the painting's hiding place...

When to watch
Find out when The Da Vinci Detective is on TV

Related links
- Information on The Da Vinci Code
- Find out how Da Vinci was a pioneer of flight