15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa
Anyone with or without an interest in art must have heard of the Mona Lisa painting. The world’s most famous, most mysterious, and most expensive painting: the Mona Lisa. This work of art, which has impressed millions of people with its beauty since the day it was made, also contains many secrets of Leonardo da Vinci. So what are the secrets of the Mona Lisa painting? Where does her charisma come from that makes her interesting, and attracts people’s attention? Who is this mysterious woman who has been smiling (!) at us for centuries? What secrets does this mysterious woman whisper to us about the mad genius Leonardo da Vinci? Are there any misconceptions we know about the Mona Lisa? We will try to answer all these questions in this content which is titled ’15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa.’
15 Secrets of The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa 1503-1507/1519 by Leonardo da Vinci | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa
1- Was the Mona Lisa Pregnant?
Centuries after the Mona Lisa was painted, the National Research Council of Canada performed a 3D scan of the Mona Lisa using infrared technology.
As a result of these scans and research, they determined that the Mona Lisa wore a ‘gwaan nello’, a special type of veil worn by women who were then pregnant or had recently given birth.
Considering that we still don’t even know exactly who the Mona Lisa is, we may never know if the woman in the painting is probably pregnant.
2- Was Mona Lisa Unwell?
The Mona Lisa is such a mysterious and remarkable painting that there is hardly a branch of science that does not examine it. It has also been frequently studied by medical professionals.
Mona Lisa has often been scrutinized by medical experts.
In 2010, an Italian doctor looked at swelling around the eyes and diagnosed excess cholesterol in her diet. Other conditions ascribed to her include facial paralysis, deafness, and even syphilis.
It has even been suggested that the expression of satisfaction on her face indicates that she is pregnant.
Dentists have also posited bruxism, compulsive grinding of the teeth; or that the line of her top lip suggests that her front teeth are missing – which, along with the faintest hint of a scar on her lip, raises the possibility that she was a victim of domestic violence.
You can even understand what a mysterious painting Leonardo da Vinci created with the Mona Lisa from the research on this topic.
3- The Mysterious Bridge
The background scenery of the Mona Lisa is generally thought to be unrealistic, but it is thought that the bridge may have been a bridge known to Leonardo da Vinci.
Mona Lisa mystery: The unknown bridge | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa.
It is usually said to be Ponte Buriano in Tuscany.
Ponte Buriano Bridge – Tuscany, Italy | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa.
But in 2011, a researcher claimed to depict the Bobbio Bridge over Trebbia, which was flooded in 1472.
Bobbio Bridge – Trebbia River, Italy | 15 Secrets of The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
4- A Thief Made Mona Lisa Famous.
Although in the art world, the painting had always been an acknowledged masterpiece, it wasn’t until it was stolen in the summer of 1911 that it would capture the attention of the general public.
Newspapers spread the story of the crime worldwide.
Her journey, which began in 1911 when it was stolen from the Louvre Museum, made the Mona Lisa take its place among the most well-known paintings in the world.
Recommended For You- The Stolen Masterpieces in Art
Even to see the space left after the Mona Lisa was stolen, people flocked to the Louvre Museum.
Two years later, it was revealed that the Mona Lisa was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, one of the four people who had previously been hired to put the painting in glass boxes.
A photograph of Vincenzo Peruggia was taken in 1909, two years before the theft. | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa was no longer a work known only to the art circles but became a work of art known all over the world and whose mystery was investigated.
5- Familiar Name in Mona Lisa Theft Investigation: Pablo Picasso.
Pablo Picasso was under suspicion for the theft. The reason was that during the investigation the gendarmes went so far as to question known art opponents like Picasso about the theft.
The poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who once said that the painting should be burned, was even briefly imprisoned.
It soon became clear that the suspicions were unfounded.
6- The Mona Lisa Even Has Its Own Mailbox!
Since the painting first arrived at the Louvre in 1815, the ‘Mona Lisa’ has received numerous love letters and flowers from fans. The most surprising part is that the Mona Lisa has her own mailbox!
Of the more than one million works of art in the Louvre Museum collection, only the Mona Lisa has its own mailbox to house all the love letters she receives regularly.
7- Not Everyone Is A Fan!
Various vandals have tried to harm Leonardo da Vinci‘s famous masterpiece. 1956 was a particularly bad year for the Mona Lisa.
In two separate attacks, one person threw acid and another stone. The damage was light but still noticeable.
With the addition of bulletproof glass, spray paint in 1974, and a coffee cup in 2009, subsequent attacks were thwarted.
8- It Is A Painting But Not A Canvas.
The Mona Lisa was painted on a wooden surface, not on a canvas. Leonardo da Vinci painted his famous masterpiece on a poplar plank.
Although painting on canvas has been a method used by artists since the 14th century, many Renaissance artists preferred to paint their small works on wood.
9- Mona Lisa’s Eyebrows!
Some art historians say that Mona Lisa’s missing eyebrows represent the high-class fashion of the time.
Some people insist that this proves that the Mona Lisa is an unfinished masterpiece.
Did Leonardo da Vinci draw the Mona Lisa without eyebrows? Or did her eyebrows fade over time? | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa
However, a digital scan in 2007 revealed that Leonardo da Vinci actually created prominent eyebrows and more ‘bold’ eyelashes for the Mona Lisa.
Perhaps they have faded over time or lost as a result of years of restoration work.
10- The Painting May Be Smaller Than You Think!
The enchanting charm of the Mona Lisa may make you imagine that you will encounter an imposing painting.
The Mona Lisa measures just 77 cm (30 inches) x 53 cm (21 inches) and weighs approximately 8 kilograms (18 lb). | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa
11- Some Historians Believe Mona Lisa Is a Self-Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519 and was buried in Amboise Castle in France’s Loire Valley.
Italy’s National Committee for Cultural Heritage is undertaking an investigation and plans to dig up his skull.
Mona Lisa with Leonardo’s Self Portrait | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa
Some historians believe the Mona Lisa is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. | 15 Secrets of The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
They want to rebuild Leonardo’s face, using CSI-style technology.
Let’s see if Leonardo da Vinci will be similar to the mysterious Mona Lisa as a result of the research.
12- She Cannot Be Bought or Sold.
The Mona Lisa is a priceless painting.
It cannot be bought or sold under French heritage law.
As part of the Louvre collection, ‘Mona Lisa’ belongs to the public, and by popular agreement, their hearts belong to her.
13- Mona Lisa’s Mysterious Smile
Mona Lisa’s mysterious, intriguing, and strange smile may be the reason why Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is so famous!
For five hundred years, there have been discussions about whether the woman in the painting is smiling or not. It has such a surprising lip expression that one of the two people looking at the painting at the same time can see the Mona Lisa happy, while the other can see it sad.
Mona Lisa’s Mysterious Smile | 15 mysteries of the Mona Lisa
Margaret Livingstone, a professor at Harvard University, explained that a smile is formed when visitors look into the eyes of the woman in the portrait due to low spatial frequencies.
Many scientists still continue to investigate the reason for this mysterious expression of the Mona Lisa.
14- She Has A Room Of Its Own In The Louvre Museum In Paris.
After the Louvre Museum management initiated a four-year renovation costing $6.3 million in 2003, the Mona Lisa was put on display in a room of its own.
The Mona Lisa in her private room at the Louvre| 15 mysteries of the Mona Lisa
The glass ceiling in this special room allows natural light to enter, and there is an unbreakable glass showcase and a system to keep the temperature constant.
The small spotlight in this special room is; It allows us to reveal the true colors of Leonardo da Vinci’s original paintings.
15- Besides the Mysterious Smile, There Are Hidden Symbols In The Painting!
While examining the Mona Lisa, we generally focus on her smile and look for the mystery here.
This is true!
Mona Lisa’s smile is mysterious and strange. However, not satisfied with this, art history researchers began to look for other codes in the painting, taking into account the character of Leonardo da Vinci.
They found it!
In the dark part of the pupils, they saw that the tiny letters and numbers placed there by the painter Leonardo da Vinci, but which are now revealed thanks to high magnification techniques, are hidden.
Italian researcher Silvano Vinceti (member of a group that asked permission to exhume it at Amboise Castle in the Loire Valley, France), found a symbol similar to the letter ‘S’ in the left eye of the Mona Lisa, against the backdrop of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, he claims to have the letter ‘L’ or the initials of Leonardo da Vinci, namely ‘LV’ in his right eye, and the symbol ’72’ or ‘L2’ under the arched bridge.
It is estimated that the Mona Lisa’s right eye has the artist’s initials L and V. | 15 Facts You Might Not Know About The Mona Lisa.
Considering that the painting is almost 500 years old, it is unlikely that these symbols will remain as they were when they were first painted, which may lead to the conclusion that the exact meaning of these symbols cannot go beyond guesswork.
But it is also a fact that; It is obvious that Leonardo hid such symbols in his work due to his interest in religion and mysticism, and da Vinci’s genius.
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