Small cracks in the paint, called craquelure, appear throughout the whole piece, but they are finer on the hands, where the thinner glazes correspond to Leonardo’s late period. The Mona Lisa is a visual representation of the ideal of happiness and the landscapes illustrated are very important. There may be those that would describe Mona Lisa Smile falling under the genre of being a “chick flick” appealing to feminism. Since then, bulletproof glass has been used to shield the painting from any further attacks. A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 1950s Wellesley girls to question their traditional social roles. "[39] 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,[40] but this thesis has been contested for lack of clear evidence. [84] Peruggia served six months in prison for the crime and was hailed for his patriotism in Italy. The title and lyrics refer to the renaissance portrait Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The Mona Lisa, also known as The Gioconda, has gained the status of “the most famous painting in the world” due to a combination of various bohemian predilections and series of events, most of which evolved and took place during the 20th century. [40], Research in 2003 by Professor Margaret Livingstone of Harvard University said that Mona Lisa's smile disappears when observed with direct vision, known as foveal. [133] Former director Henri Loyrette reckoned that "80 percent of the people only want to see the Mona Lisa. [122] A 2014 New Yorker magazine cartoon parodies the supposed enigma of the Mona Lisa smile in an animation showing progressively more maniacal smiles. [64], 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. [89][90] In both cases, the painting was undamaged. Forger Yves Chaudron was to have created six copies of the painting to sell in the US while concealing the location of the original. It is intriguing to hear Mona Lisa telling the story of who stole Mona Lisa. In recent decades, the painting has been temporarily moved to accommodate renovations to the Louvre on three occasions: between 1992 and 1995, from 2001 to 2005, and again in 2019. Leonardo's assistant Salaì, at his death in 1524, owned a portrait which in his personal papers was named la Gioconda, a painting bequeathed to him by Leonardo. The Mona Lisa was not included because it is in such great demand among visitors to the museum; the painting remained on display in its gallery. The museum attracts millions of visitors each year, most of whom come for the Mona Lisa, so a steady stream of revenue may be more lucrative in the long run than a single payment. A much more accessible version of Gibson's cyberpunk stylings, Mona Lisa Overdrive is a pretty straight forward espionage thriller in comparison to what … This intervention was skilfully executed, and successfully stabilized the crack. Her gaze is fixed on the observer. Mona Lisa with color restoration as described in this post. Raphael, who had been to Leonardo's workshop several times, promptly used elements of the portrait's composition and format in several of his works, such as Young Woman with Unicorn (c. 1506), and Portrait of Maddalena Doni (c. 1506). genre and stereotyping The story of a woman who challenged the minds of the brightest students in the country to open themselves to a different idea and go on a journey they never imagined. Unfortunately, we cannot be absolutely certain that this portrait of Lisa del Giocondo is the painting of the Louvre."[16]. There has been much speculation and debate regarding the identity of the portrait’s sitter. [48] According to Vasari, "after he had lingered over it four years, [he] left it unfinished". Lisa is the daughter of a … The delicately painted veil, the finely wrought tresses, and the careful rendering of folded fabric demonstrate Leonardo’s studied observations and inexhaustible patience. The Mona Lisa Myster‪y‬ Pat Hutchins. Carl Mann Mona Lisa . In 1913, when the painting was recovered after its theft, Denizard was again called upon to work on the Mona Lisa. It was exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery for over two weeks and returned to the Louvre on 4 January 1914. The insurance was not purchased; instead, more was spent on security. ", "In Louvre, New Room With View of 'Mona Lisa, "A Record Picasso and the Hype Price of Status Objects", "Another art anniversary: Mona Lisa comes to New York! [45] He had begun working on a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, the model of the Mona Lisa, by October 1503. 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. The painting was presented to the media in 2012 by the Mona Lisa Foundation. The work involved cleaning with spirits, touch-up of colour, and revarnishing the painting. Typical “chick-flick” films involve themes of dramatic love and romance, which usually centers on the romantic endeavors of the lead characters. 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. The glass protecting the Mona Lisa was replaced with a bulletproof case after several attacks in 1956, one of which damaged an area near the subject’s left elbow. With Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine, Robbie Coltrane. [citation needed], The Mona Lisa has had many different decorative frames in its history, owing to changes in taste over the centuries. [77] On 21 August 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre. About this we are now certain. After the second 1956 attack, restorer Jean-Gabriel Goulinat was directed to touch up the damage to Mona Lisa's left elbow with watercolour. Raphael, who had been to Leonardo's workshop several times, promptly used elements of the portrait's composition and format in several of his works, such as Young Woman with Unicorn (c. 1506),[110] and Portrait of Maddalena Doni (c. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance,[4][5] it has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world". Many theories have attempted to pinpoint one reason for the art piece’s celebrity, including its theft from the Louvre in 1911 and its tour to the U.S. in 1963, but the most compelling arguments insist that there is no one explanation. [142], A version of the Mona Lisa known as the Isleworth Mona Lisa was first bought by an English nobleman in 1778 and was rediscovered in 1913 by Hugh Blaker, an art connoisseur. It was part of the royal collection before becoming the property of the French people during the Revolution (1787–99). [69] 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). In 1911 the painting was stolen, causing an immediate media sensation. It later traveled to the United States in 1963, drawing about 40,000 people per day during its six-week stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. That interpretation was put forth by, among others, Sigmund Freud, who seemed to think that the Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile emerged from a—perhaps unconscious—memory of Caterina’s smile. 8 . The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable paintings in the world. Following a period hanging in Napoleon’s bedroom, the Mona Lisa was installed in the Louvre Museum at the turn of the 19th century. [20] The Italian name for the painting, La Gioconda, means 'jocund' ('happy' or 'jovial') or, literally, 'the jocund one', a pun on the feminine form of Lisa's married name, Giocondo. [94][72] The underlying portrait appears to be of a model looking to the side, and lacks flanking columns,[96] but does not fit with historical descriptions of the painting. Zollner gives a date of c. 1504, most others say c. 1506, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, Costanza d'Avalos, Duchess of Francavilla, National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, "The Mona Lisa's Twin Painting Discovered", "The Theft That Made Mona Lisa a Masterpiece", "Mona Lisa – Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo", "Mona Lisa – Heidelberger find clarifies identity", "Was the 'Mona Lisa' Leonardo's Male Lover? Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Mona Lisa's Secret I can never read enough of this genre-historical mysteries,stories about lost treasure, or major historical finds that also involve mystical theory, puzzles, conspiracies, lost artifacts, ancient secrets, historical or mystical figures amidst suspense, adventure and action.