What makes the Mona Lisa so great?

The Mona Lisa is arguably the most famous painting in the world, painted in the early 16th century, somewhere between by 1503 and 1506, by Leonardo Da Vinci. 

 

The artwork was painted on a canvas block after being commissioned by a wealthy French businessman who wanted a portrait of his wife painted by the Italian Master, however, once it was completed, Da Vinci failed to return the product to his customer, perhaps because he was struck by its beauty and wanted to keep it for himself, or for another mysterious reason. 

 

Whatever it is, what is certain is that people from around the world have been drawn to the painting in the Louvre for some reason.

 

For the most part, the Mona Lisa is famous simply for being famous. It is certainly not Da Vinci’s most ambitious artwork, but it remains his Magnum Opus. Many people have said that what makes the Mona Lisa so mysterious is that her smile and gaze have never quite been figured out. 

 

It is said that she is smiling because she knows a secret, an idea that originated immediately after her unveiling to the public who, during the renaissance era valued knowledge and truth over anything.

 

Perhaps her secret is one about the artist, or the universe, but after all of the speculation, it is quite obvious that she hasn't opened her mouth to tell anyone.

 

Any mystery and simplicity that comes through in the painting does not in the slightest remove from the epic artistry of the painting, because simply put, it was the beginning of a style of portrait artistry that has continued to this day. 

 

Traditionally, portraits were full length, and the fore and background details were equally vivid. The Mona Lisa, however, whoever she may in fact be, is painted from the waist up, with her arms folded on her lap. 

 

This closeness gives the artist the ability to provide more detail to the face and more noticeable features, and the background noticeably becomes more out of focus, making the viewer stare at the subject instead of the surrounding area.

 

To this day, no one can really say what it is that makes the Mona Lisa so special, and it may well be that this, in fact, is what has cemented her place as one of the most recognizable figures in the world.

 

Written by: Wesley Geyer

Who is Da Vinci?

We all know that Leonardo Da Vinci was a great man and an even greater artist. But not everyone knows who the man behind the art was.

 

Let’s take a look at the life of Leonardo Da Vinci.

 

In 1452, in the heart of the Renaissance in the heart of Europe, Leonardo Da Vinci was born outside Vinci, which lies high up on Mount Albano, in the valley of the Arno River, near the city of Florence. 

 

Florence was an independent republic at the time of his birth. His father, Ser Pierro da Vinci was a legal specialist, and his mother, a peasant girl named Caterina. Leonardo was considered an “illegitimate” son because his parents were not married. After his father married into a wealthy family, he went to live with his grandparents. Later he lived with his father’s family.

 

From a young age it was clear that he was very smart and was very quick at arithmetic and music. He revealed early on a wonderful singing voice, and quickly went to further develop his talents with a tutor. When he was 17, he went to become an apprentice of painting under the instruction of Andrea del Verrochio, in Florence. 

 

He started to use his outstanding understanding of science to enhance his paintings and studied and sketched rock formations, caves and fossils.  Although he was known as very kind and sympathetic, he did not have many close friends in his life. Later, during his apprenticeship, he started to find his niche at inventing machines like the helicopter, diving suit, and submarine. 

 

From 1478 to 1482, he had his own studio. After that, he accepted a job as a court artist for Lodvico Sforza, the Duke of Milan and lived in beautiful Milan for 17 years. There, he had a great variety of jobs including designing artillery, and planning river system diversions for the city. 

 

In Milan, Leonardo started to focus on the field of science. 

 

In 1508, a few years before his death, King Louis XII of France asked him to accompany him to Milan, and he went willingly. He worked there until 1512 on anatomy and other fields, when the French lost Milan. 

 

He then went to Rome where he stayed until he died on May 2, 1519.

 

As is often the case with artists, Leonardo Da Vinci led a quiet and lonely life. It is many centuries after his death and we still appreciate the workmanship that was produced in his life!

 

Written by: Marleen Theunissen