Leonardo da Vinci (b. 1452, Vinci, d. 1519)

The Portrait of Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa, considered the sum of Leonardo's knowledge of art and science, was originally thought to have been painted in 1505. Modern scholars now think that it was begun a few years later; Vasari's identification of the noblewoman portrayed is also considered erroneous. Antonio de Beatis (a contemporary of Leonardo), claimed, in fact, to have seen the painting in Leonardo's French studio and to have heard the artist say that it was a portrait of a Florentine woman commissioned by Giuliano de' Medici.

It has often been suggested that the woman portrayed is pregnant, not only because of the gentle and enigmatic expression, but because the entire painting symbolises the universality link that Leonardo saw between man and nature. This is similar to Freud's view that the Mona Lisa was a remembrance of Leonardo's mother, from whom he was forcibly separated on account of his illegitimate birth.

Possibly the best known work of art in the world, the Mona Lisa is Leonardo's most popular painting. It was also his masterpiece and remained in Leonardo's possession until his death. The Renaissance, after all, was a period with continuous changes of government and power; though artists were respected and protected by both Kings and Republics, they also had to continuously search for new patrons. Leonardo, who understood mankind, knew that his talent for painting opened him more doors than his knowledge of science; he was not only was he proud of his artistic masterpiece, but he used it as a showcase to demonstrate his skill.

What emotions are represented by Mona Lisa's expression and what thoughts pass through her mind are questions often asked.

Leonardo's intention was precisely this: to recreate a personality on canvas so perfectly that observers react to the portrait with same emotions they would have in front of the real person.

To obtain this result, Leonardo used his great knowledge of light, perspective, color and human anatomy.

Leonardo first painted in his mind and would put an image to canvas only after thinking about it for hours or days. The techniques that he employed to greatest effect in the Mona Lisa were shade and nuance: the outlines of the subject and of the figures in the background are not clearly sketched, but defined through a continuous graduation of colors.

Shadows and half-light surrounded the central figure in such a way as to leave our eye to complete the painting. Perspective is also used to give the painting movement (the horizon on the right side of the painting, for example, is higher than that on the left). The richness of detail in the background and the exquisite depiction of the hands in the foreground complete the picture's movement and disquieting vitality.

The painting may be liked or disliked, as Leonardo intended, but it cannot be ignored or forgotten.

The Mona Lisa is today in the Louvre in Paris.

[ Leonardo in Florence ]
[ His Years in Milan ]
[ His Roman Sojourn ]
[ Leonardo in France ]
[ Flight and Freedom ]
[ Leonardo the Engineer ]
...[ Leonardo and Warcraft ]
...[ The Art of War ]
...[ Leonardo and Water ]
...[ Entertainments ]
...[ Mechanics ]