[13] In 1516, Leonardo was invited by King Francis I to work at the Clos Lucé near the Château d'Amboise; it is believed that he took the Mona Lisa with him and continued to work on it after he moved to France. Raphael's Young Woman with Unicorn, c. 1506, Raphael's Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione (c. 1514–15), Le rire (The Laugh) by Eugène Bataille, or Sapeck (1883), Jean Metzinger, 1911, Le goûter (Tea Time), oil on canvas, 75.9 x 70.2 cm, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Marguerite Agniel "As Mona Lisa" by Robert Henri, c. 1929, Today the Mona Lisa is considered the most famous painting in the world, but until the 20th century it was simply one among many highly regarded artworks. Since then, bulletproof glass has been used to shield the painting from any further attacks. [103] The renovation of the gallery where the painting now resides was financed by the Japanese broadcaster Nippon Television. Her left arm was also paralyzed and she was carefully holding it with her right hand. [28] The woman sits markedly upright in a "pozzetto" armchair with her arms folded, a sign of her reserved posture. Security in the museum was lax, so the man found it easy to stow away inside a storage closet. [28] Zöllner notes that the sitter's general position can be traced back to Flemish models and that "in particular the vertical slices of columns at both sides of the panel had precedents in Flemish portraiture. Some researchers claim that it was common at this time for genteel women to pluck these hairs, as they were considered unsightly. He rem… The “Mona Lisa” was the protagonist of an incredible theft that was carried out on the night between 20th – 21st August 1911 by an Italian, Vincenzo Peruggia, a former employee of the Louvre who, convinced that the painting belonged to Italy and should not remain in France, decided to steal it. That Leonardo painted such a work, and its date, were confirmed in 2005 when a scholar at Heidelberg University discovered a marginal note in a 1477 printing of a volume by ancient Roman philosopher Cicero. [131] Former director Henri Loyrette reckoned that "80 percent of the people only want to see the Mona Lisa. Because of the way the human eye processes visual information, it is less suited to pick up shadows directly; however, peripheral vision can pick up shadows well. He was greatly attracted to her, mesmerized by her enigmatic smile. To learn all the details of this amazing story, we spoke to the author of the book Mona Lisa, A Life Discovered, Dianne Hales, who prepared a walking tour to follow Mona Lisa’s steps in Florence. 1. Who created the Mona Lisa painting? Leonardo, later in his life, is said to have regretted "never having completed a single work". In response to warping and swelling experienced during its storage during World War II, and to prepare the picture for an exhibit to honour the anniversary of Leonardo's 500th birthday, the Mona Lisa was fitted in 1951 with a flexible oak frame with beech crosspieces. He analyzed the painting in the Louvre with reflective light technology beginning in 2004, and produced circumstantial evidence for his theory. The soft blending creates an ambiguous mood "mainly in two features: the corners of the mouth, and the corners of the eyes". It is thought that he continued to work on it for years and to have finished it shortly before he died in 1519. Unfortunately, we cannot be absolutely certain that this portrait of Lisa del Giocondo is the painting of the Louvre."[15]. Dianne Hales was passionate about this family and the heritage of Gherardini, and absolutely about the person we know as Mona Lisa. For example, Leonardo probably painted his model faithfully since her beauty is not seen as being among the best, "even when measured by late quattrocento (15th century) or even twenty-first century standards. "[132], Before the 1962–1963 tour, the painting was assessed for insurance at $100 million (equivalent to $660 million in 2019), making it, in practice, the most highly-valued painting in the world. The Story Behind the Mona Lisa Heist The prevailing theory was that the thief was part of a large art theft ring, but new details paint a different picture. The woman was a charming Italian peasant who was partially paralyzed. The Mona Lisa has survived for more than 500 years, and an international commission convened in 1952 noted that "the picture is in a remarkable state of preservation." [14][15] It is believed by some that the Mona Lisa was begun in 1503 or 1504 in Florence. In 1919, Marcel Duchamp, one of the most influential modern artists, created L.H.O.O.Q., a Mona Lisa parody made by adorning a cheap reproduction with a moustache and goatee. The humidity is maintained at 50% ±10%, and the temperature is maintained between 18 and 21 °C. [135] The Prado's conclusion that the painting is probably by Salaì (1480–1524) or by Melzi (1493–1572) has been called into question by others. Mona Lisa Smile (2003) Plot. During the 20th century it was an object for mass reproduction, merchandising, lampooning and speculation, and was claimed to have been reproduced in "300 paintings and 2,000 advertisements". The most accepted theory is that it portrays Lisa del Giocondo, a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany and the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. In 1859, Théophile Gautier wrote that the Mona Lisa was a "sphinx of beauty who smiles so mysteriously" and that "Beneath the form expressed one feels a thought that is vague, infinite, inexpressible. Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in … The real-life scandal and shame behind Mona Lisa’s smile MONA LISA was famously unable to conjure up a fully joyous smile for Leonardo da Vinci. ", "The 'Prado Mona Lisa' – The Mona Lisa Foundation", "Da Vinci's Mona Lisa Entering the Next Dimension", Tweened animated gif of Mona Lisa and Prado version, "Depth Perception and the History of Three-Dimensional Art: Who Produced the First Stereoscopic Images? [82] Peruggia served six months in prison for the crime and was hailed for his patriotism in Italy. We are freely sharing it with you with the hope of inspiring you and bringing light to your life. [55][56][57] Other later copies of the Mona Lisa, such as those in the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design and The Walters Art Museum, also display large flanking columns. [18][20] In French, the title La Joconde has the same meaning. The painting was presented to the media in 2012 by the Mona Lisa Foundation. The lamp has a Colour Rendering Index up to 98, and minimizes infrared and ultraviolet radiation which could otherwise degrade the painting. Both Vasari and Gian Paolo Lomazzo describe the subject as smiling,[12][95] unlike the subject in Cotte's supposed portrait. [84] The painting was protected by glass because a few years earlier a man who claimed to be in love with the painting had cut it with a razor blade and tried to steal it. [54][57][56][69] The hypothetical first portrait, displaying prominent columns, would have been commissioned by Giocondo circa 1503, and left unfinished in Leonardo's pupil and assistant Salaì's possession until his death in 1524. [123] The Mona Lisa was regarded as "just another Leonardo until early last century, when the scandal of the painting's theft from the Louvre and subsequent return kept a spotlight on it over several years. When Leonardo met the woman we now know as Mona Lisa, it was a love at first sight. Leonardo has chosen to place the horizon line not at the neck, as he did with Ginevra de' Benci, but on a level with the eyes, thus linking the figure with the landscape and emphasizing the mysterious nature of the painting. Both were later exonerated. [76] On 21 August 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre. During World War II, it was again removed from the Louvre and taken first to the Château d'Amboise, then to the Loc-Dieu Abbey and Château de Chambord, then finally to the Ingres Museum in Montauban. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), the painting was moved from the Louvre to the Brest Arsenal. Despite the treatments, the Mona Lisa has been well cared for throughout its history, and although the panel's warping caused the curators "some worry",[98] the 2004–05 conservation team was optimistic about the future of the work. In 1883, Le rire, an image of a Mona Lisa smoking a pipe, by Sapeck (Eugène Bataille), was shown at the "Incoherents" show in Paris. [136], The restored painting is from a slightly different perspective than the original Mona Lisa, leading to the speculation that it is part of the world's first stereoscopic pair. Mona Lisa, La Gioconda from Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece was a real person. This intervention was skilfully executed, and successfully stabilized the crack. He did so with such force that it shattered the glass case and dislodged a speck of pigment near the left elbow. He continued to work on it for the rest of his life trying to faithfully express her magnetism and mesmerizing charm. © Copyright 2009, Rethnea. After going through the queue, a group has about 30 seconds to see the painting. "[38] Some art historians in Eastern art, such as Yukio Yashiro, argue that the landscape in the background of the picture was influenced by Chinese paintings,[39] but this thesis has been contested for lack of clear evidence. The work involved cleaning with spirits, touch-up of colour, and revarnishing the painting. I am touched by your kind words and greatly appreciate them. Once part of King Francis I of France's collection, the Mona Lisa was among the first artworks to be exhibited in the Louvre, which became a national museum after the French Revolution. [63], Because the Mona Lisa's poplar support expands and contracts with changes in humidity, the picture has experienced some warping. Once upon a time, Mona Lisa had eyebrows and eyelashes. Yet, Leonardo was instantly under the spell of the woman. Your email address will not be published. [20], Peruggia was an Italian patriot who believed that Leonardo's painting should have been returned to an Italian museum. Nevertheless, applications of varnishmade to the painting had darkened even by the en… This material is protected by Copyright Law. [10], After the French Revolution, the painting was moved to the Louvre, but spent a brief period in the bedroom of Napoleon (d. 1821) in the Tuileries Palace. Peruggia was arrested, tried, and imprisoned, while the Mona Lisa took a tour of Italy before making its triumphant return to France. Showing all 5 items Jump to: Summaries (5) ... Their parents and the school administration foster a predetermined path in life for the girls, namely to stick to traditional mores and thoughts, with the primary goal of marrying into a good family. [54] Later paintings by Raphael, such as La velata (1515–16) and Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione (c. 1514–15), continued to borrow from Leonardo's painting. by Mira Kelley | Aug 13, 2009 | Inspiration, Past Life Regression | 2 comments. It became the definitive example of the Renaissance portrait and perhaps for this reason is seen not just as the likeness of a real person, but also as the embodiment of an ideal. [25] Art historian Carmen C. Bambach has concluded that Leonardo probably continued refining the work until 1516 or 1517. [85] We can now trace back four different stages in the creation of the masterpiece. [33] The enigmatic woman is portrayed seated in what appears to be an open loggia with dark pillar bases on either side. [105], On the 500th anniversary of the master's death, the Louvre held the largest ever single exhibit of Da Vinci works, from 24 October 2019 to 24 February 2020. She was descended from ancient nobility of that city and lived her life in that fashion. It is the most famous painting in the world, and yet, when viewers manage to see the artwork up close, they are likely to be baffled by the small subdued portrait of an ordinary woman. [114][115], The avant-garde art world has made note of the Mona Lisa's undeniable popularity. "[111][112] Jean Metzinger's Le goûter (Tea Time) was exhibited at the 1911 Salon d'Automne and was sarcastically described as "la Joconde à la cuiller" (Mona Lisa with a spoon) by art critic Louis Vauxcelles on the front page of Gil Blas. [86] On 2 August 2009, a Russian woman, distraught over being denied French citizenship, threw a ceramic teacup purchased at the Louvre; the vessel shattered against the glass enclosure. In 1913, when the painting was recovered after its theft, Denizard was again called upon to work on the Mona Lisa. The unconstrained poplar panel warped freely with changes in humidity, and as a result, a crack developed near the top of the panel, extending down to the hairline of the figure. French poet Guillaume Apollinaire came under suspicion and was arrested and imprisoned. Denizard also retouched the edges of the picture with varnish, to mask areas that had been covered initially by an older frame. And the Mona Lisa was painted on uncut poplar … Apollinaire implicated his friend Pablo Picasso, who was brought in for questioning. Denizard was directed to clean the picture without solvent, and to lightly touch up several scratches to the painting with watercolour. A detailed analysis in 1933 by Madame de Gironde revealed that earlier restorers had "acted with a great deal of restraint." [50][51][52][a], Circa 1505,[54] Raphael executed a pen-and-ink sketch, in which the columns flanking the subject are more apparent. The edges of the painting have been trimmed at least once in its history to fit the picture into various frames, but no part of the original paint layer has been trimmed. Dated October 1503, the note was written by Leonardo's contemporary Agostino Vespucci. After some confusion as to whether the painting was being photographed somewhere, the Louvre was closed for a week for investigation. "[125], From December 1962 to March 1963, the French government lent it to the United States to be displayed in New York City and Washington, D.C.[126][127] It was shipped on the new ocean liner SS France. There are speculations who does the small portrait depict. The Real Story of the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa -- A Love Story Spanning Lifetimes. It has never been fully restored, so the current condition is partly due to a variety of conservation treatments the painting has undergone. A later restorer glued and lined the resulting socket and crack with cloth. [68] A number of experts have argued that Leonardo made two versions (because of the uncertainty concerning its dating and commissioner, as well as its fate following Leonardo's death in 1519, and the difference of details in Raphael's sketch—which may be explained by the possibility that he made the sketch from memory). Peruggia may have been motivated by an associate whose copies of the original would significantly rise in value after the painting's theft. [90], In the early 21st century, French scientist Pascal Cotte hypothesized a hidden portrait underneath the surface of the painting. [41][42], Of Leonardo da Vinci's works, the Mona Lisa is the only portrait whose authenticity has never been seriously questioned,[43] and one of four works – the others being Saint Jerome in the Wilderness, Adoration of the Magi and The Last Supper – whose attribution has avoided controversy. To compensate for fluctuations in relative humidity, the case is supplemented with a bed of silica gel treated to provide 55% relative humidity. [128] In New York, an estimated 1.7 million people queued "in order to cast a glance at the Mona Lisa for 20 seconds or so. [63], In 1977, a new insect infestation was discovered in the back of the panel as a result of crosspieces installed to keep the painting from warping. [40], Research in 2008 by a geomorphology professor at Urbino University and an artist-photographer revealed likenesses of Mona Lisa's landscapes to some views in the Montefeltro region in the Italian provinces of Pesaro and Urbino, and Rimini. [96], The Mona Lisa has survived for more than 500 years, and an international commission convened in 1952 noted that "the picture is in a remarkable state of preservation. The perceptive eye of the painter was instantly grabbed by her magnetic glow. … Yesterday’s incident of a woman throwing a teacup at the portrait reminded me of the intriguing story of how Leonardo created this masterpiece. "La Joconde est Retrouvée" ("Mona Lisa is Found"). ", "Hidden portrait 'found under Mona Lisa', says French scientist", "Secret Portrait Hidden Under Mona Lisa, Claims French Scientist", "New Study Reveals Potentially Groundbreaking Drawing Hidden Beneath 'Mona Lisa, "Why Leonardo da Vinci's brilliance endures, 500 years after his death", "Biographical index of collectors of pastels", "Mona Lisa fans decry brief encounter with their idol in Paris", "Leonardo da Vinci's Unexamined Life as a Painter", "Louvre exhibit has most da Vinci paintings ever assembled", "Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object : Tea Time (Woman with a Teaspoon)", "Mona Lisa: Who is Hidden Behind the Woman with the Mustache? 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