Renaissance Blog - Mona Lisa
One of the works I chose was the Mona Lisa by the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci. This famous work was painted in 1503-1519 and was owned by French royalty. Its current presentation is small in size, which surprised more than one person. Many people thought it was big, but it was actually small. However, seeing it from that perspective makes it look more intimate and personal.
In the painting of Mona Lisa there are several elements, one of them is the soft and cold colors. For example, in Mona Lisa's face I see colors like yellow and orange showing a tone in her face more calm and warm. On the other hand, in the back I see some colder colors like green and blue. The artist Leonardo da Vinci used some darker tones to shade the part of Mona Lisa's hair creating a quality of realism in the painting using a handling of light and shadows seeing it even more realistic. Other elements that the painting has curved lines create beauty and tranquility.
When I see the art piece Mona Lisa, it inspires me in different ways. Da Vinci's use of light draws my eye right to her face and there are no distractions. The use of shadows helps this person feel three-dimensional, like a real person. The kind of mix in her way of smiling attracts me. It is kind of a mystery. It is as if she wants to say something. Her expression is very direct and her look is like I want to know what she is thinking at that moment. It also brings some kind of calm emotions. I don't have any copies of the painting of Mona Lisa or by the artist Leonardo da Vinci, but I would like to see the real painting of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre museum in Paris, France.
References
From the 'Mona Lisa' to 'The Wedding Feast at Cana' - The Salle des États. (n.d.). Le Louvre. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/from-the-mona-lisa-to-the-wedding-feast-at-cana
Leonardo Da Vinci: Life and Artworks. (n.d.). Leonardo Da Vinci. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.leonardodavinci.net
Parks, J., & Robinson, M. D. (2025, January 23). The Mona Lisa: A Brief History of da Vinci's Famous Painting. Art & Object. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.artandobject.com/news/mona-lisa-brief-history-da-vincis-famous-painting
Who Were Francesco Del Giocondo and His Wife Lisa Gheridani? (2012). The Mona Lisa Foundation. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://monalisa.org/2012/09/05/francesco-del-giocondo-his-wife-lisa-gherardini/
The Mona Lisa is an absolute classic! I appreciate your mention of the colors, to add to that, I believe that the colors of the Mona Lisa darkened over time. Despite this, it's very impressive that it retained a majority of its colors. I like how the background also affects the shadows and lighting on her skin! It truly shows Leonardo's skill in realism and his knowledge of painting. The Mona Lisa's expression does exude mystery, but her stare makes the viewer feel connected somehow, almost like how we have conversations with our friends. Great blog, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe Mona Lisa truly does captivate you with her enigmatic smile and mysterious aura, it does feel beautiful but also a bit mysterious which I think adds to it. The use of soft colors and gentle shading showcase's the eras dedication to realism and beauty. It stands as a symbol of artistic achievement, showing Leonardo's mastery even all these years later. I really loved your post!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate that you chose an art that would be familiar to everyone. I also liked that you talked about another famous piece by Leo, because I did not know the paintings were by the same person. However, I do not think I have any relation to this art because I personally do not care for portraits. If we are talking about relations about each other's paintings, I would say they are both vibrant and old. Fun fact, apparently, it was Monna Lisa but it was misspelled to Mona Lisa.
ReplyDeleteI am rather captivated by the famous painting of Mona Lisa, which is very beautiful. I am also very pleased to have known about the description of how Leonardo da Vinci repurposed his art to be warm, textured, and inspiring. Since the painting shows some realistic features, it advises how art was used at the beginning of the era. I appreciate your enjoyment of the painting and describing it in this blog.
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