Behind the mysteries of Mona Lisa - what we really know about this masterpiece

Behind the mysteries of Mona Lisa is a fascinating story that has aroused the interest of the art world over the centuries.

The famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci , exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, attracts millions of visitors. The smile of Mona Lisa remains one of the greatest riddles in art history. This article illuminates what we really know about this masterpiece and gives insights into the secrets that surround the portrait of Mona Lisa.

Mona Lisa, a masterpiece of art history

Mona Lisa is undoubtedly one of the most important works in art history. In her multifaceted smile and the lively eyes, the viewer literally seems to wake up to life.

The famous portrait, painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, has survived for centuries and captivates people from all over the world. The painting finds its place in the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris, where it is admired by millions of visitors every year.

The title of the painting was created due to a typo. The correct name would be "Monna Lisa" (translated "Ms. Lisa") or the Italian name "La Gioconda" . - Both titles are derived from the name of the supposed model: Lisa del Giocondo.

The artist Leonardo da Vinci painted the portrait in the years between 1503 and 1506 . It is believed that the woman presented is Lisa Gherardini , the wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo.

The universal genius Leonardo da Vinci is a man with many talents - engineer, philosopher and meteorologist. He also serves as a court artist for respected personalities of his time. But he became particularly well known through his works of art that portray women. In contrast to other artists, he not only tries to capture their beauty, but also to grasp their character. For him mirrors , the interior of a woman in the movements of her attractive body opposite him - his appearance is less interested in it.

Typically, Renaissance oil paintings were painted on canvas to facilitate transport between houses. Nevertheless, the Mona Lisa is painted on an extremely temperature -sensitive wood of the poplar. Due to the sensitive material, the plate has moved over time and the oil paint was cracked.

For this reason, the Louvre the portrait in 2005 with a protective glass cover . The glass protects the valuable work (even if a cake is thrown on it) and helps to preserve the portrait. The Louvre has taken additional measures to protect the work by regulating the temperature and humidity in the glass showcase.

However, the Mona Lisa was not always protected by glass. In 1804 the Mona Lisa was presented to the public in the Grand Gallery of the Louvre. Samuel Morses' painting “ Gallery of the Louvre” from 1833 shows the Mona Lisa, which, together with other known works of art, hangs on the wall in a frame.

Mona Lisa's identity is still controversial and is questioned by some experts. The controversy about the true identity of the Mona Lisa contributes to the mysterious aura of the painting and has caused numerous speculations about its origin.

A special feature of Mona Lisa is her mysterious smile , which the viewers captivated again and again. There was a lot of speculation about what was behind this puzzling expression. Some see it a profound melancholy, while others recognize subtle irony.

The smile of Mona Lisa mirrors T The extraordinary ability of Leonardo da Vinci to capture human emotions and character traits with unprecedented precision.

Despite all the speculations and controversy, there are also some facts known about the masterpiece. The Portrait of the Mona Lisa was very valued during Leonardo da Vinci and was used as inspiration by other artists. It has been restored several times over the centuries and is now known worldwide for its extraordinary quality and beauty.

However, the Mona Lisa remains a mystery that continues to captivate the art world. Her history, identity and smile will also deal and inspire future generations.

The history of the Mona Lisa

The history of the Mona Lisa is just as fascinating as the picture itself.

Leonardo da Vinci started working on this portrait around 1503 and only completed it about three years later. During this time he spent many hours studying Mona Lisa and capturing every detail of her facial expression.

It is assumed that he portrayed her in his studio in Florence before moving to France and was presumably based on the invitation of King Franz I. Using historical records, it can be understood that the Italian artist and scientist brought a portrait of a woman when he was a stay in the Castle Clos Lucé (also called Manoir du Cloux), near Amboise (Castle at the Loire) came.

He lived on the farm until his death in 1519, and legend was Franz I at the end.

Until his death, he lovingly and refines the layers to coordinate the complexion with tinber and thus imitate blood vessels. The painting represents his creative heritage - a legacy of his incomparable talent. Despite her unadorned appearance in a simple robe, the view of Mona Lisa penetrates her viewer in an inimitable way, while she remains mysterious.

According to the Louvre Museum, Franz I bought the painting from Leonardo in 1518. The Mona Lisa in the Fontainebleau palace was exhibited for the next 100 years. Then, in the 1640s, King Louis XIV brought it to the castle of Versailles, where it remained until after the French Revolution.

Since the end of the French Revolution, Mona Lisa has been in the collection of the Louvre Museum , where it captivates around 10 million art lovers from all over the world every year

The choice of portrait as a topic for this masterpiece was unusual at that time. Most of the 16th century paintings were religious or mythologically inspired, but Leonardo deliberately decided to paint a simple portrait of a woman.

This made the Mona Lisa a pioneer in art history and laid the foundation for the development of the portrait as an independent art form .

The techniques that Leonardo used in the creation of the Mona Lisa were also innovative. He used a "Sfumato" technique to create soft transitions between the colors, to create depth and thus create a realistic picture. This technique, in which the contours are gently lost, gives the portrait its unique atmosphere and creates the impression of a mysterious aura around Mona Lisa.

Despite all this information, however, there is a lot in the dark over the creation of the Mona Lisa. There are little documented records about Leonardo's creative process and the exact identity of the woman depicted is still a mystery.

Nevertheless, the image has become a symbol of the art world and is still revered and admired by experts and art lovers.

Theft causes a sensation

Although the 500 -year -old portrait is known worldwide today, it only became famous when it was stolen in 1911. In fact, the Louvre Museum only noticed its absence when an admirer discovered it on the walls 24 hours later.

Due to the excessive reporting in the media, the disappearance of the Mona Lisa caused the whole world.

The French poet Guillaume Apollinaire suspected for a short time and was arrested and locked up. Instead, Apollinaire accused his friend Pablo Picasso , who was subsequently used as a survey. Fortunately, the two were soon acquitted by all allegations.

In the end it was Vincenzo Peruggia, an employee of the Louvre Museum who stole the Mona Lisa on August 21, 1911. During his sensational coup, he could be locked in the museum overnight. He hid inside a closet and apparently stole the work of art in his work pour on the following day unnoticed from the premises.

Despite safety precautions, a trace could be secured: a left thumbprint on a glass box indicated the thief - but unfortunately it was missed at that time to compensate for it with existing information about the suspicion wearer ...

Further investigations on the part of the police led to no success, which means that the theft remained unsolved for more than two years. This was an immense scandal for the Louvre and the government was forced to stop the museum director.

For over three weeks, this story dominated the headlines of all newspapers. Numerous citizens made a pilgrimage to the Louvre to examine the gaping hole on the wall - while street sellers postcards and reproductions of Leonardos Mona Lisa Feilboten.

In order to adequately fill the gap in the museum, Raffäel's picture of Baldassare Castiglione on; which was strongly inspired by the influence of the famous work.

In March 1912, the Camille Corot's art museum acquired a pearl - a best -known modern homage to Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece: Mona Lisa. From 1913, this feat no longer appeared in the catalog of the Paris Museum Louvre.

Fortunately, the authorities were able to regain Mona Lisa in 1914 when Peruggia tried to sell them to an Italian art dealer. He claimed that his deed was due to wanting to bring the work back to his original home country.

The controversy about the identity of the Mona Lisa

The controversy about the identity of Mona Lisa has always been a focus of discussions and speculation. The portrait -like painting by Leonardo da Vinci, which is exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, has been very popular for many years and keeps raising questions.

Who was the mysterious woman with the enigmatic smile?

Numerous theories have appeared over the years that try to reveal the identity of Mona Lisa.

The Lisa-Delgiecondo theory

It is most often reported that the client of Leonardo da Vinci's work was a Florentine noble man. The noble man, Francesco del Giocondo Lisa Gherardini in 1495 . The name of the small painting, which has a size of 77 × 53 cm, goes back to this story.

The couple married in 1495 when Lisa was 16 and Francesco was almost twice as old as she was. According to historians, the Gherardinis were a wealthy family due to their possessions in the Chianti (the wine region in Tuscany). Due to her high status, Lisa probably knew the well -known painter Leonardo.

Your presence on the portrait is confirmed by a written report by Leonardo from 1503. However, the reason for the order of the portrait is still unknown. There may be commissioned to celebrate the birth of the couple's third son.

Loved by Giuliano di Lorenzo de 'Medici?

Another theory says that the young woman shown was the lover of Giuliano di Lorenzo de 'Medici, a leading politician in Florence. Leonardo himself set this track when he worked for the French king in a castle at Amboise at an advanced age.

In his studio he showed a visitor to a beautiful woman and reported that it was originally intended for Giuliano de 'Medici - the brother of Pope Leo X. It could well be that Giuliano commissioned the portrait for his illegitimate son, whose mother unfortunately had already passed; Leonardo may have painted the ideal idea of ​​the boy's dream woman.

Self -portrait of Leonardo da Vinci?

Again, other historians even believe that Mona Lisa is a self -portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519 and was buried in a French castle. The Italian National Committee for Cultural Heritage conducts an investigation and plans to dig out its skull. You want to reproduce Leonardo's face with CSI-like technology. Will he resemble the mysterious Mona Lisa?

The controversial debate about the identity of Mona Lisa continues to this day and leaves space for new theories, art -historical analyzes and scientific studies.

It is precisely the uncertainty and the complexity of this painting that make it one of the most famous works of art in the world and repeatedly raise new questions. It remains to be seen which new knowledge will come to light in the coming years and whether they will ultimately bring us closer to the truth about the identity of Mona Lisa.

Riddle for the background of the Mona Lisa solved (?)

In contrast to this previously unresolved secret, art historian Silvano Vinceti to be on the trail of another in Tuscany, according to a report by National Geographic By using drones and thorough research, Vinceti believes identified part of the landscape in the background of the painting : a bridge called Romito di Laterina, which once led west of Arezzo over the Arno River.

Only one bow and one foundation are left of the bridge today-nevertheless, Vincei is convinced: the Etruskisch-Roman Romito bridge near the village of Latrina must be the one that adorns the background of the Mona Lisa.

Calculations suggest that at that time it extended with four arches across the Arno - just like the bridge in Da Vinci's painting. In addition, the striking course of the river and even the wave movements on site match those in the painting.

So far, two other buildings have been considered the most likely real role models for the painted bridge: for example the Ponte Vecchio in Bobbio, northeast of Genoa, or the Ponte Buriano near Arezzo. However, these still intact buildings have six or more arches, in contrast to the four arches in the painting. In addition, the rather flat bank landscapes do not match the landscapes shown in the picture.

The historian also found documents from the Medici family in the State Archives of Florence, which according to Vinti said that the bridge in 1503 was "a very busy and efficient bridge", which reduced the travel time between Florence and Arezzo by several hours. At that time, Vinci started working on Mona Lisa. It is undisputed that the painter was moving in the region mentioned, says Vinceti.

Thanks to drone shots, Vinceti was also able to identify the Punta Caianello hill, from which it is similar from a view to the actual bridge in the painting.

Despite all of this, the historian is not completely certain whether it is actually the bridge from the picture.

Another theory cannot be completely cleared up by this new evidence: that the painting is a fantasy landscape inspired Tuscany

The double Mona Lisa

You may not know that another version of the Mona Lisa can be seen Prado Museum

For years it was assumed that the painting was a copy of the original, which is known the twin sister of Mona Lisa

In 2012, however, the Prado restorers discovered that the painting was created at the same time as Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa. Infrared technology (such as an X -ray, but for art ) showed that the preliminary changes were identical to both works.

In addition, the twin painting was made by a student who worked with Leonardo. The portrait of the Prado Museum was allegedly made by Leonardo's main assistant Melzi or his alleged beloved Salai.

The figures are identical in the form and both were transmitted by tracing the same starting material. It is important to understand that only someone who worked next to the master painter could experience these adjustments.

The facts - what we know about the masterpiece

Art historians and experts have been researching intensively for many years to find out more about Mona Lisa and her history.

It was analyzed in various ways, from chemical examinations of the color pigments to technical studies of Leonardo da Vinci's painting techniques.

Since Vinci himself is one of the greatest artists in the Renaissance , and his influence on the art world is undeniable. The Mona Lisa is an example of its masterful ability to use light and shadow to create depth and realism.

How much is Mona Lisa worth today?

The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world and therefore has an enormous historical and cultural value. In monetary terms, however, it is difficult to specify a precise value, since the market value can vary from works of art and depends on various factors.

It is estimated that the value of the Mona Lisa is now estimated at several hundred million dollars. This is based on a combination of her iconic status, its unique story and the popularity of the artist Leonardo da Vinci.

In the Guinness Book of Records, it is recognized as the most expensive insurance policy in history , which in 1962 had a value of $ 100 million, which corresponds to $ 650 million in 2018.

It is important to note that the Mona Lisa is exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris and belongs to the French state. It is part of the cultural heritage of France and is therefore practically unsalable.

Your value as a work of art goes beyond the pure financial aspect and is often considered priceless. The Mona Lisa is also often seen as an unexpected work of art because it is considered irreplaceable.

It is therefore unlikely that she will ever appear on an auction market. Overall, the Mona Lisa is a symbol for immeasurable artistic value and cultural importance, and its price can hardly be quantified.

Mona Lisa in pop culture

In 1919 Marcel Duchamp not hesitate to create his own version of the Mona Lisa portrait.

By adding the "Lhooq" , he created the word "look" in English, while in French - if you pronounce every letter individually - there is a objection.

The novel by Dan Brown, entitled "The Da Vinci Code" (sacrilege), was sold more than 80 million times in 2003 and gave Mona Lisa a new dimension of popularity. In Brown's esoteric thriller with international success, she plays a central role in the unveiling of one of the mysteries shown.

The Mona Lisa still fascinates us and is amazed at us. She almost made her mysterious attraction the symbolic figure of the Louvre. If you want to look at them, you should go to the area with the paintings, more precisely in the Denon wing, Hall 6.

Fascinating facts

Although the history of Mona Lisa is extensive, you will find some particularly fascinating facts about the mysterious portrait that you may not yet know:

• It could be that the oil painting is unfinished - Leonardo could not paint in the last few years of his life because of trembling hands.
• Lisa Gherardini's smile was also examined by doctors as a sign of an illness.
• From 1801 to 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte - a big fan of the painting - hung the Mona Lisa in his bedroom in the Tuilerienpalast.
• Vincent van Gogh also raved about Mona Lisa. In a letter to his brother Theo, he wrote: "There is nothing better than a painting by Leonardo da Vinci".
• On August 29, 1939, two days before the beginning of the Second World War, the Louvre Museum was closed for repair work. During its closure, the museum secretly moved works of art, including the Mona Lisa, for safe storage during the war.
• First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy applied for the Mona Lisa to be exhibited for the first time in history in the United States. It was seen in the National Gallery of Art in Washington in 1963.
• The last loan of the Mona Lisa to a museum took place in 1974.
• Since the painting was first published in the Louvre in 1815, "Mona Lisa" has received numerous love letters and flowers from admirers. She even has her own mailbox.
• In 2012, 150,000 people signed a petition in which they asked the Louvre to return Mona Lisa to his hometown Florence, Italy. Of course, the Louvre declined.
• In 2018, the Mona Lisa was seen in the music video of Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
• During the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, the Louvre Museum created a virtual reality of Mona Lisa.
• If the Mona Lisa were evaluated today, it would be worth over $ 900 million and would be the most expensive painting in the world.

Source directory:

Literature:

Internet:

• National Geographic : Riddle of Mona Lisa solved
• Google Arts & Culture : 5 Things You Didn't Know About The Mona Lisa
• Geo : Mona Lisa: Why her smile is a stroke of genius
• Dailyart Magazine : All You Need To Know About Mona Lisa
• Britannica : Mona Lisa
• JSTOR : Giovanni Garcia-Fenech, “The Travels and Travails of the Mona Lisa,”

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

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