Yet
the two bisected paining of Leonardo and Mona Lisa were said to be a
very fine match of each other
following scanning and digitization.
But a flip of the mouth was showing a smile. The older face of
Leonardo and the younger face of Mona Lisa were an accurate
superimposition. History point to the paining period as being the
time Leonardo was extensively traveling. Anonymously Leonardo
represented himself in the paining but with a straight eye lid, too
straight for his age. Isabella model age and beauty times was not
fairly represented in the in the
portrait with an unclear reference
on men and women attraction in the paining. (Schwatz 44)
From time to time Leonardo was know to paint himself in women’s
clothing and has even been taken to court for indecent behavior on
fellow men. Thus His expression of two landscapes, two sexes all
sitting in one
painting was a leading clue the model man who was
everywhere where there were no women, the dresses without jeweler and
veiled, and most importantly the missing dates and records on the
painting . Exemplary gifts of Leonardo were seen in his ability to
put together two paintings both from different people. (Schwatz 45)
The painting case of the second Cartoon face of Isabella the
Duchess of Aragon was obviously different from the earlier match. The
face of Isabella had a “rounder jaw, a broader nose, a lower dress,
a graver expression and eyes which look directly at the viewer” On
a closer analysis the hairline fell into place exactly. It is
speculated that at this stage Leonardo decide to substitute his own
features for the earlier portrait all in a playful and riddled manner
just like his name. (Schwatz 47)
Joseph Harriss on the other hand claimed that “Mona Lisa
is the most famous work in the entire 40,000 years of visual arts.”
He substantiates this by saying that “the portrait provoked instant
shocks of recognition on every continent from Asia to America by
reducing the Venus of Milo and Sistine Chapel to level of merely
local marvel”. Thus there were many museums visitors who were
equally marveled by its sight, cultural archetype and icon of kitsch.
Related acclamations were received from a French Minister for culture
who called it the “the most subtle homage that genius has ever
rendered to a living face.” ( Harris website )
But more explanation was ought at that time about the smile
of Mona Lisa with speculations that she smiled with her mouth close
due to the effect of mercury that was dosed on her to cure her
syphilis. Later it was to be discovered that she was probably
paralyzed hence her posture of the right hand that was humbly placed
on the left one. And following earlier claims by Lillian Schwatz
that the smile was none other than of Leonardo himself, not very many
people were convinced. ( Harris Website )
Psychologist like Sigmund Freud thought that Mona Lisa was
French and went a head to crown her “the most perfect presentation
of contrast dominating the love life of woman, namely reverse and
seduction, most submissive tenderness, and the indifferent craving
which confront man as a strange and consuming sensuality”. Hence,
the Mona Lisa portrait attraction and acclaimed priceless ness led to
its theft and anxiety for about two years, when its was returned back
undamaged. The return led to even more adoration and jokes about the
portrait that the artistic paradox has been at the centre of many
advertising and journalistic efforts as well as cultural sponsorship
from as far as Japan to the tune of $4.1 million to towards its
conservation. Yet other are not sure if it will make her a superstar.
(Harris Website )
Cited List:
Schwatz
,Lillian , Feldmann. The Mona Lisa Identification: Evidence from a
computer
analysis. The Visual Computer, (1988) 4:40 – 48 Springer –
Verlag 1988
Harriss,
Joseph. Seeking Mona Lisa. Electronic copy Available at
http://www.geocities.com/harriss75007/monalisa.htm?200810
. Accessed on
January 18, 2008.