The Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda, is one of the most fascinating paintings in history. It continues to captivate historians, artists, scientists, and even doctors who analyze art from a medical perspective. The Gioconda is no exception.
In this masterpiece, da Vinci masterfully blends mystery and serenity into the smile, while the gaze portrays both innocence and complicity, as though the subject and viewer share a secret. The painting provides harmony and invites viewers to see beyond the surface into the soul of the portrait.
You've likely heard of the mysterious aura surrounding the Mona Lisa, a cultural phenomenon intertwined with myths, novels, and films. But here are some lesser-known facts:
How Did This Painting End Up in France?
Château du Clos Lucé. Source: Wikipedia
It is said that Leonardo Da Vinci took the portrait of the Mona Lisa with him when he was invited to France by King Francis I. The story goes that the Italian artist had the portrait during his stay at the Clos Lucé castle, near Amboise (Loire castle).
Since then, the Mona Lisa was part of the royal collections and was exhibited at the Château de Versailles during Louis XIV’s reign. It arrived at the Louvre in 1797, remaining there except for three interruptions: when Napoleon took it to his bedroom (1800-1804), when it was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia (1911-1914), and when it was placed in safekeeping during World War II.
Many Portraits Beneath the Surface
In 2004, the Louvre Museum requested the Institute for the Analysis of Renaissance Art to scan the Mona Lisa using engineer Pascal Cotte’s multispectral camera. After 18 years of analysis, it was discovered that underneath the Mona Lisa, there were three previous portraits. These layers reveal an idealized mother, an intelligent Florentine woman, and the trace of forbidden love.
Using Layer Amplification Method (LAM), along with da Vinci's geographical maps and sanguines published by Carlo Pedretti, researchers found that the landscape behind La Gioconda corresponds to a real place. A tower on the left side of the painting is now known to be the Tower of Caprona, visible from the Fort of Verruca in the Arno Valley. Further research even revealed a cave, depicted in another da Vinci painting, The Virgin of the Rocks.
Who Was the Model?
It is now widely accepted that the model is Lisa di Antonmaria Gherardini, the second wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a Florentine noblewoman. But for a long time, there were various hypotheses about her identity.
Some believed the portrait was a mix of male and female models, Leonardo’s mother, or even a self-portrait of da Vinci in drag. There was also a theory that she was a prostitute, based on her lack of eyebrows, eyelashes, and a specific hairstyle linked to prostitutes of the time.
Pascal Cotte's high-definition analysis revealed that da Vinci may have initially painted the eyebrows and eyelashes, but removed them later. A single brushstroke of hair was found above the left eye, suggesting they once existed. While Lisa Gherardini is now the accepted identity, some still argue that the model was Constanza d'Avalos, Duchess of Francaville.
Is It the Materials?
For some, the true mystery of the Mona Lisa lies not in her smile but in the materials used. A group of French scientists discovered plumbonacrite, a rare lead compound, in a fragment of the painting. This compound suggests that da Vinci experimented by mixing lead white pigment with oil and lead(II) oxide, a technique that enhanced the drying properties of his paint.
This technique, also used in The Last Supper, was previously thought to be a Rembrandt innovation. However, advanced analysis has revealed that da Vinci was using this unique combination long before, contributing to the mastery of his works.
Is Ophthalmology the Real Secret?
Medicine has tried to address the mysteries of this masterpiece through ophthalmology. An ophthalmic examination revealed four key details: the absence of visible eyebrows and eyelashes, the face's non-conformity to the golden ratio, signs of xanthelasma (fat deposits around the eyelids), and a slight leftward gaze.
Leonardo applied a simple mathematical relationship to the geometry of her face, using the ellipsoid shape and the longest axis vertically aligned. By examining the left eye, a mirror image resembling a grail or chalice can be seen, symbolizing something deeper. This perception is enhanced by the painting’s unique light distribution, engaging the viewer.
The Geometry of the Mona Lisa’s Face
The geometry of the Mona Lisa’s face follows an ellipsoid position, with her left eye at the center. This division of the face into two proportional halves reflects da Vinci’s mastery of optical illusions. The artist utilized the science of vision and neurophysiology to create the impression that her gaze follows the viewer. This phenomenon, known as ‘retinal correspondence,’ explains why she seems to be watching from every angle.
The sfumato technique used by da Vinci plays a significant role in creating the illusion of movement and depth. His understanding of how the eye perceives contrast and light contributes to the psychological effect the painting has on viewers.
The Construction of the Mona Lisa Legend
Though today the Mona Lisa is world-famous, it wasn’t always so. The painting’s fame surged after it was stolen in 1911, an event that transformed it into a cultural icon. On August 22, 1911, the portrait disappeared from the Louvre, sparking widespread media coverage and speculation about its whereabouts.
For two years, the world wondered who could have stolen the painting, why, and how. Even famous figures like Picasso were questioned. In late 1913, hope seemed lost until a man named ‘Leonardo’ attempted to sell the painting in Florence.
The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, a former Louvre worker, claimed political motives, wanting to return the painting to Italy. After his arrest, La Gioconda was returned to the Louvre, cementing its place in history as not just a masterpiece but a legend.
Mugshot of Peruggia.
There you have it—the captivating history and the many layers of mystery surrounding one of the world’s most famous paintings, La Gioconda!
