Rina has been inspired to write this book which is heavily researched and heavenly inspired. The vision of Leonardo appeared to her through a dream phenomenon and his spirit told her to reveal that Mona Lisa is really Caterina. Rina discounts any previous theories or any current ones driven by computer technology. She disputed the account of Vasari in his book Lives of the Artists. She defends her theory by completely discrediting any of his accounts by questioning his lengthy description of the eyebrows, eyelashes and the rosy nostrils, which are not visible on the portrait as we know it. She is convinced that Vasari may be describing a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, but certainly not the painting of the "Mona Lisa" at the Louvre.
In the Vasari Lives description he talks about
the nostrils in the painting. The Mona Lisa has only one nostril showing.
De Firenze showed slides of the landscapes from Leonardo's countryside birthplace, views of the town of Vinci, the churches where da Vinci was baptized, some of his works of art and finally the mansion in Amboise, France where Leonardo spent the last three years of his life. "Mona Lisa", a cultural icon, has become a commercial item to the author's dismay.
A view of the Giant Sphere of Vitruvian Man made according to the design of Leonardo from his autographed notes.
It stands on a terrace of the Medieval Castle in Vinci now, a museum displaying models, of Leonardo's mechanical inventions. The Museum is supported by IBM.
Da Vinci's Home Page
Subject: Information on Exibitions
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 00:37:08 -0400
From: Rina de Firenze carina@webspan.net
To: sjfeld@erols.comDear Steve,
I have just bookmarked the Web Page on the Exibition I saw in Italy.
I discovered there is a lot of material written in English.
It is by Alessandro Vezzosi, a friend of mine from Vinci. He gave me some of the post cards I gave you last year, like the one with the Maze. He is the director of the Museo Ideale in Vinci. There is a Site Map on leonardo, which is very educational. The address is: www.leonardoeleuropa.com. When you click on Exibition you get - Home- containing the Site Map
The address of the Location of the Exibit is: http://www.rivieradellepalme.com/
North of San Benedetto del Tronto is Porto San Giorgio.
Let me know if you like it.
Regards,
Rina
Subject: RE: Leonardo river
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 15:19:41 -0500
From: "Hodges, Donna S." DSHODGES@southernco.com
To: 'sjfeld@erols.com' sjfeld@erols.comHi Steve,
I was in Vancouver for the annual meeting of the International Association of Business Communicators, of which I am a member. While sightseeing, I saw the building with the inscription (it was about six blocks or so from the hotel I stayed at).
I happened across your Web site while trying to find out more about the quote. I hadn't known that da Vinci studied the flow of water, etc.; I had always considered him more of an artist. I found all of the information at your site very interesting. I decided to use the quote in our newsletter because it's one of those things that makes you think; I think our readers would enjoy it. Our company owns 14 hydroelectric dams and we focus on protection of our lakes and rivers, as well as telling customers about our business.
I'd like to know more about the quote, if your historian finds out more.
Thank you,
Donna-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Feld [SMTP:sjfeld@erols.com]
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2000 7:23 PM
To: Hodges, Donna S.
Subject: Re: Leonardo river
Hodges, Donna S. wrote: >
Hi Steve,
I wanted to let you know I found the quote I was searching for back in August. Actually, I saw this engraved quote on the marble wall at some luxury condominiums in Vancouver, Canada, that is attributed to da Vinci. The condos feature a waterfall-type design outside their entrance. I'm sure this probably was taken from the Codex...I would love to know for sure."In rivers, the water you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; So with time present." -I was searching for this quote because I wanted to use it in a newsletter that goes to about 23,000 of our lakeshore customers. I finally found whereLeonardo da Vinci
I had copied it back in June, when I was in Vancouver for a conference.
Thank you for your help,
Donna Hodges, Southern Company
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Feld [SMTP:sjfeld@erols.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2000 2:36 PM
To: dshodges@southernco.com
Subject: Leonardo river
Dear Donna:
Thank you for signing the Mona Lisa guestbook with your query. I have been keeping an eye open to find the Leonardo writing about the river. I'm sure its in the Codex. If come across the specific reference I'll let you know.
Best of luck with your search.
Best regards,
Steve FeldDear Donna:
I have forwarded this quote to our researcher at large who is a Leonardo historian.I am so pleased that you were able to track down the source to the June Conference. What was the conference about?
We would be delighted if you were to share our web address with your newletter lakeshore subscribers.
I will let you know what turns up with the research. We would love to publish your letter on our site so others may get involved in the discussion.
Warm regards,
Steve Feld
Why is the Mona Lisa Smiling?
/13681/data/davin2.shtml
Subject: About Leonardo's Codex
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 22:07:23 -0400
From: Rina de Firenze carina@webspan.net
To: sjfeld@erols.comDear Steve:
I have checked, Leonardo's phrase on river water comes from the Leicester Codex. Tell the lady who signed your guest book to read about it by clicking on the Da vinci Page and the Museum of Natural History. It doesn' contain that passage mentioned by her, maybe it is one they skipped, but it will give her a good idea on Leonardo's study on the subject.
By the way, I found out that they just reopened the butterfly Conservatory, which I want to see. The reason being that last year when I visited Leonardo's house in Vinci, I photographed with my panoramic camera a huge batterfly which kept posing for me as if following my requests.
It was spooky, yet very magical . I want to know its species. May be I will send you a copy of it. I will try to send you the Riviera link and also E-mail Alessandro as soon as I can.
Regards, Rina
