Perhaps the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci’s most cherished and beloved paintings, is the world’s greatest portrait. With its classic lines and haunting shapes, this portrait of a Renaissance lady captivates audiences by startling their senses.
A firm believer in understanding the structure of his subjects, da Vinci created a vision of Mona Lisa that exudes the intensity of emotions.
Many believe that his artistic style brings about personal and intimate experiences through which the viewing public emerges.
The Stunning Portraiture of Leonardo da Vinci
At first glance, the Mona Lisa appears to have a look of contentment on her face. With closer inspection, it becomes clear that, indeed, the lady is smiling, as her pursed lips curl ever so slightly in the corners of her delicate mouth. She sits in front of a rocky landscape, which complements her frame.
As a result, there is a three dimensional quality to the portrait that makes its horizon seem far away to the observer.
Using a technique called sfumato, da Vinci was able to create the hazy effect of smokiness in which colors turned into light and dark tones. He intended to give the Mona Lisa a natural look, instead of a statue-like visage.
Thus, the use of sfumato gave him the ability to separate the Mona Lisa’s outline from the background, which makes the portrait strikingly life-like.
Like other artists of the Renaissance period, da Vinci was very concerned about representing perfect human forms. With the elegant dignity of Mona Lisa, he further mastered his craft.
Because the Mona Lisa is a half-length view, later painters and, even, photographers adopted the half-length model as the basic form of portraits.
The Mystifying Pose of Mona Lisa
The beauty of the Mona Lisa reflects its mystique. Da Vinci made sure that his subject’s face was not quite symmetrical. In doing so, as the observer’s eyes move from left to right, the Mona Lisa’s expression seems to change. Moreover, the horizon of the background is higher on one side of her than on the other side.
This causes her posture to appear straight one minute and slumping the next. Both impressions make the Mona Lisa appear to be alive. People often stare at the portrait, turn away, and then look back, noticing that the gaze and stance of the Mona Lisa mysteriously transform.
Why is the Mona Lisa’s pose so enduring? Because of her shy smile and the way she caresses her left arm with the fingers of her right hand, her pose is legendary. From song to film, there are countless performing artists who pay homage to the lady whom da Vinci immortalized.
Many art historians believe that da Vinci chose to paint Monna Lisa Gherardini del Giocando, the middle class wife of an Italian merchant. They contend that da Vinci’s aim was to treat his subject with dignity and respect in honor of the growing culture and refinement of the middle class.
Conversely, some art historians have used x-rays to investigate the lines and drawings beneath the portrait. They claim that da Vinci began the painting by first drawing a self-portrait.
This suggests that Mona Lisa’s pose reflects manly attributes. While the debate over da Vinci’s inspiration continues, it is obvious that he skillfully and painstakingly created this masterpiece.
On display at the Louvre, the Mona Lisa attracts faithful followers annually. Some of them send letters addressed to “Madam Mona Lisa.” It is the painting’s air of mystery that intrigues people, making them fanatical at times. For generations to come, the Mona Lisa will fascinate millions with its mystique.
Sources
Secrets of the Mona Lisa
The Mystery of the Mona Lisa
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