Mona LisaWhy is she so

famous?

The Painting is only 30 inches tall, and 21 inches wide.

Consider how we normally view pictures of people; either as profiles or as mug shots. I wonder what this unfortunate looking person did?

With his painting of the Mona Lisa, Leonardo invented the “three-quarter” pose, where the subject sits with her shoulders at an angle to the viewer.

It’s even how the photographer had you pose for your school picture!

Matteo Olivieri1440-50Tempera on panel transferred to canvas, 47,6 x 33,7 cmNational Gallery of Art, Washington

This Portrait of Homer found in a 12th century manuscript seems to be the only portrait extant in the Western Middle Ages.

Leonardo also invented “pyramidal composition”

Leonardo also invented the “sfumato” technique. It means “smoky” and refers to his ability to blend the paint colors. You can’t really see any brush strokes. Notice the detail around Mona Lisa’s eyes; the layers of paint show so many different shades.

Notice also the detail of her lace veil at her forehead.

Notice the background. The detail on the two sides cannot match up with each other.

See the two sides now as a whole; they just don’t match up.

Leonardo was the first to use an imaginary background, which explains why the two sides of the background on the Mona Lisa don’t match up. He also liked to use rocky landscapes, as shown here in his painting, “Madonna of the Rocks.”

Notice also that the background doesn’t have as much detail as the subject. Compare the background detail here with the next painting.

See how the background has as much detail as the subjects of the painting.

By giving the background less definition, Leonardo draws your attention to the subject. This revolutionary technique is called “atmospheric perspective.”

Eyebrows; does she, or doesn’t she?

Pascal Cotte discovered a single stroke of paint above Mona Lisa's left eye, representing an eyebrow hair. It is thought Leonardo painted the eyebrows after the rest of the paint had dried. It is also thought that cleaning of the painting has removed the eyebrows.

Does she smile?

Notice the flat line of her lips; no curve, so no smile, right?

Now look at her eyes. Continue to look at her eyes in the next slide.

As you look at her eyes, you see the corners of her mouth with your peripheral vision. The shadows at the edges of her mouth suggests to your eyes she is smiling, when in fact her mouth is not.

Leonardo studied human anatomy, including this study of human hands.

This knowledge allowed him to paint Mona Lisa’s hands with great detail.

This sketch of Mona Lisa by the artist Raphael helps explain the round knobs on the edge of the painting. The painting was originally larger, and showed the roof support columns of the loggia (similar to a porch) where Mona Lisa posed.

Who was she?

She was Madonna Lisa di Antonio Maria Gherardini, the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. Madonna means “My Lady” and can be shortened to Mona. Hence, Mona Lisa.

How famous is she?