Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa"

In Leonardo da Vinci's time (1452 - 1519) his painting of the "Mona Lisa" was already well known for its realism. As the years passed a certain mystery surrounded the lady. The painting seems to suggest soft feminine qualities. The "Mona Lisa" illustrates the use of decreasing color and contrast in the landscape background. Leonardo was one of the first painters to bring this phenomenon to the canvas. All of these factors brought attention to the "Mona Lisa" and it continues to hold people's attention as no painting has before or since. All of these factors make the painting particularly significant, but one additional factor that makes it vital to the art world is the use of the painting in identifying other works as those of Leonardo's.

Techniques employed by Leonardo in his works and seen in the "Mona Lisa" are unique to his style and therefore positive evidence of his hand in other paintings. First of all Leonardo was known to be left-handed, which is evident in the brush strokes on his canvases. Since it was so difficult to distinguish between the works of Leonardo, and those of his master, Andrea del Verrocchio, and later Leonardo's students, some of which were collaborations between Leonardo and his students, the left-handed strokes found in the "Mona Lisa" and other works by Leonardo are very important. Leonardo also used a technique of plane geometry in the heads of his females with smiling faces that was unique to him (Goldblatt 10).

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ing a look of fine cloth. Her high forehead and absence of eyebrows enhance the lady's features and are today, part of what sets the work apart from others. The "Mona Lisa" is the embodiment of Leonardo's passion for life and woman. He put everything he was and ever hoped to be into this painting. His imagination flowed to the apex of his ability. If you compare this work to any other it stands out and makes most of the others appear uninteresting and dull. While other paintings may seem more true to life, more beautiful in form, when people observe the "Mona Lisa" they cannot help but be held by the work. Even the most casual observer cannot fail to see that there is more to this painting than just a simple portrait. Leonardo once said that "the face is the mirror of the soul" and indeed he has portrayed this image in Mona Lisa's face. One is aware of a depth of emotion within the person of the lady. Looking at the painting you are not aware of the canvas or paint. You see, for the most part, the face and this is what attracts so many to the work. If you are fortunate enough to view the work more than once you will begin to believe that your soul has been connected to Leonardo's and you begin to see the painting in a

Category: Arts - L