London, Jul 1 : A new documentary claims that the Turin Shroud, which is a linen bearing the image of a man, actually has the face of artist Leonardo Da Vinci etched on it and not the face of Jesus Christ.

Da Vinci had long been suspected of faking the image of Christ on the fabric with pioneering photographic techniques.

But it was only after a groundbreaking study that it was discovered the mysterious picture is actually Da Vinci’s self-portrait.

Graphic consultant Lillian Schwartz, of the School of Visual Arts in New York, has previously claimed Da Vinci used a self-portrait as a basis for the Mona Lisa.

Now, she has used computer scans to reveal the face on the Turin Shroud also shares the same dimensions as the Italian genius, who died in 1519.

“It matched – I’m excited,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

The documentary claims that Da Vinci put his features on to the shroud by covering it with light-sensitive chemicals - then fired the sun’s rays on to it.

“It is spooky, it is jaw-dropping - it is the most exciting thing that has ever happened,” Turin Shroud researcher and author Lynn Picknett added. (ANI)