For a trip back to the Renaissance consider a visit to Victoria in the Winter of 1998-99.
This historical context provided the inspiration for the present exhibition. It puts on display the most significant technological achievements of some of the artist-engineers that preceded Leonardo. It also provides tangible evidence of the fact that Leonardo's "universal" intellectual experience - embracing art and science- was the supremely creative culmination of a long process: the renewal of technical knowledge that persisted thoughout the Renaissance.
The show comprises three sections, devoted respectively to Filippo Brunelleschi, the Sienese engineers, (Taccola and Francesco di Giorgio), and Leonardo da Vinci. A key attraction is the series of fifty spectacular working models of the most significant machines of the Renaissance. Multimedia applications enable even non-specialists to understand how the devices worked, and reproduce several dozen notebooks and workshop records by Leonardo, and his colleagues, turning the spectator into an active traveller on a journey from which he/she will emerge with a new image of the Renaissance.
PARIS (AP) -- Yellowed by layers of varnish applied over the
centuries, the jaundice-faced Mona Lisa remains the Louvre's
top
attraction. Some experts say it's high time for a facelift,
but the
Louvre says, ``Hands off.''
Thanks to computer technology, a French art magazine is
offering a
glimpse of what the Mona Lisa may have looked like when
Leonardo da
Vinci painted her in 1503: rosy cheeks instead of yellow
pallor, pale
blue skies instead of the famed sunset glow.
Today's debate, to clean or not to clean, follows the
Louvre's
decision to give the world's most famous painting a room of
her own.
The new gallery won't be completed until at least 2001.
Art experts are urging the Louvre to use the move as an
opportunity to
scrape off the accumulated varnish, applied to preserve the
work's
magical luster.
The bi-monthly magazine Journal des Arts published two
photos of the
Mona Lisa -- one touched up, the other as is -- in its
current
edition, along with divergent opinions on a possible
facelift.
For the Louvre, there's no debate at all.
``It's absolutely out of the question to restore the Mona
Lisa in any
way,'' Jean-Pierre Cuzin, chief paintings' curator at the
museum, told
The Associated Press on Friday.
Cuzin said the last touch-up dates to the mid-1950s, when
experts
removed several age spots. Despite the canvas's yellow hues,
Cuzin
said the painting is in good condition and doesn't need
cleaning now.
Besides, he said, the new gallery's state-of-the-art
lighting and
special nonreflective glass will enhance Mona Lisa's beauty.
``The Mona Lisa isn't as dark as people think,'' he said in
a
telephone interview. ``We'd rather wait until we're sure
that a
cleaning wouldn't do any irreparable damage.''
Others insist the Louvre's 5.2 million visitors deserve Mona
Lisa at
her best.
``I consider the Mona Lisa to be a work of art and not an
icon, so
there's no reason to treat it differently from any other
painting,''
British art expert Alastair Laing told the Journal des Arts.
``I think the Louvre should consider removing the varnish,
just as
they have in other works.''
Da Vinci pioneered the complex techniques to achieve the
brilliance
and subtlety that have made the work so famous. And experts
agree that
a facelift would be tricky, if not a nightmare.
``If you want a restoration expert to commit suicide, put
him to work
on the Mona Lisa,'' said Jean-Gabriel Goulinat, who worked
on the
masterpiece for more than 30 years.
Resin, lacquer and varnish have been layered on the painting
at
different intervals in the past 495 years.
Their chemical reaction to natural light have made the Mona
Lisa look
as though she's suffering from hepatitis, and all require
different
types of solvent for removal, which could cause irreparable
damage to
the painting.
But Cuzin makes another point that transcends the debate
over possible
damage to the painting: While viewers may believe that vivid
pinks and
blues and whites reside beneath the multiple coats of
varnish, Mona
Lisa may never have had such vibrant coloring.
``Unlike Raphael, for example, da Vinci used very little
contrast. His
palette was different hues of brown and gray,'' he said.
Mona Lisa Bridge
Re: Thank you for visiting our site
Date:
Tue, 29 Dec 1998 18:29:37 -0800 (PST)
From:
Victoria Duchovny
To:
sjfeld@erols.com
Dear Mr. Feld
Thank you for your reply, the Mona Lisa is a continuing source of
fascination for me. The book I read about the beard that Mona Lisa
supposedly once had was called: The Unexplained; An illustated guide to the World's Natural and
Paranormal Mysteries.. It's by Dr. Karl P.N. Shuker, Carelton Books Ltd. Copyright 1996.
It also detailed conjecture and heresay about the Mona Lisa possibly
being pregnant, having Bells Palsy or no teeth!!!
I'm flattered by the Golden Reflective Star award and appreciate your
reply.
Date:
Mon, 4 Jan 1999 16:31:21 -0500
From:
"Rina de' Firenze" carina@webspan.net
To:
sjfeld@erols.com
Dear Steve,
Italy is calling this 1999, the "YEAR OF LEONARDO" !
This year is being focused on Leonardo to celebrate his many inventions come to light during
this last century of the Millennium, starting with Bill Gates, lending the Exhibit of Leonardo's
Codex to Milano. The Stamp represents the first Euro Coin for Italy.
One side it has the eleven stars representing the countries belonging to the European
Union, the other side it has Leonardo's drawing. The indentation around the coin is
a reminder of his mechanical inventions.
The last but not the least will be the arrival to Italy of the monumental Bronze Horse,
to be erected in Milano on the 10th of September, 1999, a gift from the USA to
Renaissance Italy to celebrate Leonardo da Vinci's contribution to the world.
Thank you Charles Dent for originating it, and thank you Roger Enloe for bringing
Charles' dream to completion!
In my opinion the celebration started a year earlier with the exceptional
Website of the clever students of JFK High School of New York.
Congratulations and best wishes for an even greater New Year !
Rina de' Firenze
Author of Mystery of the Mona Lisa
Institute and Museum of History of Science
Florence, Italy
Date: February 12 1999
Laura Manetti
I have visited your site and find it very interesting.
Yes, please make a link with the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza site. I am pleased to sign your guestbook.
Laura Manetti
