Guest guest Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 By David Ljunggren Tue Sep 26, 7:43 PM ET OTTAWA (Reuters) - Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman immortalized in Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert said on Tuesday. The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used special infrared and three-dimensional technology to peer through hitherto impenetrable paint layers on the work, which now sits in the Louvre museum in Paris. Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Centre for Research and Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin transparent gauze veil. " This type of gauze dress ... was typical of the kind worn in early 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine, " he told a news conference. " We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted to commemorate the birth of the second son of the Mona Lisa, which helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503. " The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. She had five children. Mottin also said that, contrary to popular belief, the subject had not let her hair hang freely but in fact wore a bonnet from which only a few curls managed to escape. " People always wrote that the Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of young girls and women of poor virtue, " he said. The experts from Canada's National Research Council said the painting was in fragile condition but should not suffer too much damage if taken care of properly. " The wood panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted is sensitive to temperature and climate variations. However, if its current storage conditions are maintained, there is no risk of degradation, " the NRC said in a statement. " The 12 cm (3-1/2 inch) split on the top half of the painting, which was probably due to the removal of the original frame and repaired between the middle of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, appears to be stable and has not worsened over time. " The council had hoped to discover more details about Leonardo's " sfumato " technique of subtly blending one tone into another, which the artist used to create a hazy effect. But scientist John Taylor said the team had been frustrated by the lack of brush stroke detail on the painting. " It's extremely thinly painted and extremely flat, and yet the details of the curls of hair, for example are extremely distinct. So the technique is unlike anything we've ever seen before. Leonardo was in a league of his own, " he said. Close examination of the craquelure -- the fine pattern of cracks formed on old paintings -- showed the paint layers were still firmly attached to the poplar wood panel on which Leonardo created his masterpiece. " We didn't see any sign of paint lifting. So for a 500-year-old painting it's very good news. And if they continue to keep it the way they have in an environment-controlled chamber, it could remain like that for a very long time, " Taylor said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 I did see the mona lisa when I visited to paris, going to the louvre and not seeing her is like going to london and not seeing the big ben or thames or going to new york and not seeing the empire state building. her painting was smaller than I thought, I didn't know where she was, then I asked a guard and he told me " you will know, before you get there " sure enough I entered a salon and there was a crowd of about 50 people in front of this painting. I did not get a good look at her, she had many body guards or should I say " painting guards' it is unbeliavable, the aura that one painting has. , " heartwerk " <jo.heartwork wrote: > > By David Ljunggren > Tue Sep 26, 7:43 PM ET > > > > OTTAWA (Reuters) - Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman immortalized in > Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to > her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert > said on Tuesday. > > The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used > special infrared and three-dimensional technology to peer through > hitherto impenetrable paint layers on the work, which now sits in the > Louvre museum in Paris. > > Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Centre for Research and > Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it > became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin > transparent gauze veil. > > " This type of gauze dress ... was typical of the kind worn in early > 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given > birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because > the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine, " > he told a news conference. > > " We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted > to commemorate the birth of the second son of the Mona Lisa, which > helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503. " > > The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as > Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. > She had five children. > > Mottin also said that, contrary to popular belief, the subject had > not let her hair hang freely but in fact wore a bonnet from which > only a few curls managed to escape. > > " People always wrote that the Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang > freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because > letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of > young girls and women of poor virtue, " he said. > > The experts from Canada's National Research Council said the > painting was in fragile condition but should not suffer too much > damage if taken care of properly. > > " The wood panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted is sensitive to > temperature and climate variations. However, if its current storage > conditions are maintained, there is no risk of degradation, " the NRC > said in a statement. > > " The 12 cm (3-1/2 inch) split on the top half of the painting, which > was probably due to the removal of the original frame and repaired > between the middle of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, > appears to be stable and has not worsened over time. " > > The council had hoped to discover more details about > Leonardo's " sfumato " technique of subtly blending one tone into > another, which the artist used to create a hazy effect. But scientist > John Taylor said the team had been frustrated by the lack of brush > stroke detail on the painting. > > " It's extremely thinly painted and extremely flat, and yet the > details of the curls of hair, for example are extremely distinct. So > the technique is unlike anything we've ever seen before. Leonardo was > in a league of his own, " he said. > > Close examination of the craquelure -- the fine pattern of cracks > formed on old paintings -- showed the paint layers were still firmly > attached to the poplar wood panel on which Leonardo created his > masterpiece. > > " We didn't see any sign of paint lifting. So for a 500-year-old > painting it's very good news. And if they continue to keep it the way > they have in an environment-controlled chamber, it could remain like > that for a very long time, " Taylor said. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Hi Anouk It is strange, isn't it. I've not seen the painting ... yet :-) Jo - " Anouk Sickler " <zurumato Friday, September 29, 2006 5:08 AM Re: For anyone interested in art..... > I did see the mona lisa when I visited > to paris, > > going to the louvre and not seeing her is like > going to london and not seeing the big ben or thames or > going to new york and not seeing the empire state building. > > her painting was smaller than I thought, > I didn't know where she was, then I asked a guard and he told me > > " you will know, before you get there " > > sure enough I entered a salon and there was a crowd > of about 50 people in front of this painting. > > I did not get a good look at her, she had many body guards or should > I say " painting guards' > > it is unbeliavable, the aura that one painting has. > > > > > , " heartwerk " <jo.heartwork wrote: > > > > By David Ljunggren > > Tue Sep 26, 7:43 PM ET > > > > > > > > OTTAWA (Reuters) - Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman immortalized in > > Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to > > her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert > > said on Tuesday. > > > > The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used > > special infrared and three-dimensional technology to peer through > > hitherto impenetrable paint layers on the work, which now sits in the > > Louvre museum in Paris. > > > > Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Centre for Research and > > Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it > > became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin > > transparent gauze veil. > > > > " This type of gauze dress ... was typical of the kind worn in early > > 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given > > birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because > > the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine, " > > he told a news conference. > > > > " We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted > > to commemorate the birth of the second son of the Mona Lisa, which > > helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503. " > > > > The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as > > Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. > > She had five children. > > > > Mottin also said that, contrary to popular belief, the subject had > > not let her hair hang freely but in fact wore a bonnet from which > > only a few curls managed to escape. > > > > " People always wrote that the Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang > > freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because > > letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of > > young girls and women of poor virtue, " he said. > > > > The experts from Canada's National Research Council said the > > painting was in fragile condition but should not suffer too much > > damage if taken care of properly. > > > > " The wood panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted is sensitive to > > temperature and climate variations. However, if its current storage > > conditions are maintained, there is no risk of degradation, " the NRC > > said in a statement. > > > > " The 12 cm (3-1/2 inch) split on the top half of the painting, which > > was probably due to the removal of the original frame and repaired > > between the middle of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, > > appears to be stable and has not worsened over time. " > > > > The council had hoped to discover more details about > > Leonardo's " sfumato " technique of subtly blending one tone into > > another, which the artist used to create a hazy effect. But scientist > > John Taylor said the team had been frustrated by the lack of brush > > stroke detail on the painting. > > > > " It's extremely thinly painted and extremely flat, and yet the > > details of the curls of hair, for example are extremely distinct. So > > the technique is unlike anything we've ever seen before. Leonardo was > > in a league of his own, " he said. > > > > Close examination of the craquelure -- the fine pattern of cracks > > formed on old paintings -- showed the paint layers were still firmly > > attached to the poplar wood panel on which Leonardo created his > > masterpiece. > > > > " We didn't see any sign of paint lifting. So for a 500-year-old > > painting it's very good news. And if they continue to keep it the way > > they have in an environment-controlled chamber, it could remain like > > that for a very long time, " Taylor said. > > To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Maybe I am just an un-cultured heathen, but that picture does nothing for me. Admittedly I have only seen photos/ prints of it, but it just doesnt float my boat. Plus I think a lot of people visit it just because of what it is rather than its artistic merit. Dont get me wrong, I think old Mr DaVinci was a clever bloke,what with all his inventions etc............... The Valley Vegan................Anouk Sickler <zurumato wrote: I did see the mona lisa when I visited to paris, going to the louvre and not seeing her is like going to london and not seeing the big ben or thames orgoing to new york and not seeing the empire state building.her painting was smaller than I thought, I didn't know where she was, then I asked a guard and he told me"you will know, before you get there"sure enough I entered a salon and there was a crowdof about 50 people in front of this painting. I did not get a good look at her, she had many body guards or should I say "painting guards'it is unbeliavable, the aura that one painting has. , "heartwerk" wrote:>> By David Ljunggren > Tue Sep 26, 7:43 PM ET> > > > OTTAWA (Reuters) - Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman immortalized in > Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to > her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert > said on Tuesday. > > The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used > special infrared and three-dimensional technology to peer through > hitherto impenetrable paint layers on the work, which now sits in the > Louvre museum in Paris.> > Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Centre for Research and > Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it > became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin > transparent gauze veil.> > "This type of gauze dress ... was typical of the kind worn in early > 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given > birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because > the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine," > he told a news conference.> > "We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted > to commemorate the birth of the second son of the Mona Lisa, which > helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503."> > The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as > Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. > She had five children.> > Mottin also said that, contrary to popular belief, the subject had > not let her hair hang freely but in fact wore a bonnet from which > only a few curls managed to escape.> > "People always wrote that the Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang > freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because > letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of > young girls and women of poor virtue," he said.> > The experts from Canada's National Research Council said the > painting was in fragile condition but should not suffer too much > damage if taken care of properly.> > "The wood panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted is sensitive to > temperature and climate variations. However, if its current storage > conditions are maintained, there is no risk of degradation," the NRC > said in a statement.> > "The 12 cm (3-1/2 inch) split on the top half of the painting, which > was probably due to the removal of the original frame and repaired > between the middle of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, > appears to be stable and has not worsened over time."> > The council had hoped to discover more details about > Leonardo's "sfumato" technique of subtly blending one tone into > another, which the artist used to create a hazy effect. But scientist > John Taylor said the team had been frustrated by the lack of brush > stroke detail on the painting.> > "It's extremely thinly painted and extremely flat, and yet the > details of the curls of hair, for example are extremely distinct. So > the technique is unlike anything we've ever seen before. Leonardo was > in a league of his own," he said.> > Close examination of the craquelure -- the fine pattern of cracks > formed on old paintings -- showed the paint layers were still firmly > attached to the poplar wood panel on which Leonardo created his > masterpiece.> > "We didn't see any sign of paint lifting. So for a 500-year-old > painting it's very good news. And if they continue to keep it the way > they have in an environment-controlled chamber, it could remain like > that for a very long time," Taylor said.>To send an email to - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2006 Report Share Posted September 30, 2006 I saw her many years ago too and it was pretty much the same thing. To be quite honest tho, I never saw the attraction to this painting. I think it is the onlookers and entusiasts that give her that aura. Did you rent the headsets to listen about the art? Do they even still have those? Nikki , " Anouk Sickler " <zurumato wrote: > > I did see the mona lisa when I visited > to paris, > > going to the louvre and not seeing her is like > going to london and not seeing the big ben or thames or > going to new york and not seeing the empire state building. > > her painting was smaller than I thought, > I didn't know where she was, then I asked a guard and he told me > > " you will know, before you get there " > > sure enough I entered a salon and there was a crowd > of about 50 people in front of this painting. > > I did not get a good look at her, she had many body guards or should > I say " painting guards' > > it is unbeliavable, the aura that one painting has. > > > > > , " heartwerk " <jo.heartwork@> wrote: > > > > By David Ljunggren > > Tue Sep 26, 7:43 PM ET > > > > > > > > OTTAWA (Reuters) - Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman immortalized in > > Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to > > her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert > > said on Tuesday. > > > > The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used > > special infrared and three-dimensional technology to peer through > > hitherto impenetrable paint layers on the work, which now sits in the > > Louvre museum in Paris. > > > > Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Centre for Research and > > Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it > > became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin > > transparent gauze veil. > > > > " This type of gauze dress ... was typical of the kind worn in early > > 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given > > birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because > > the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine, " > > he told a news conference. > > > > " We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted > > to commemorate the birth of the second son of the Mona Lisa, which > > helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503. " > > > > The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as > > Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. > > She had five children. > > > > Mottin also said that, contrary to popular belief, the subject had > > not let her hair hang freely but in fact wore a bonnet from which > > only a few curls managed to escape. > > > > " People always wrote that the Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang > > freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because > > letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of > > young girls and women of poor virtue, " he said. > > > > The experts from Canada's National Research Council said the > > painting was in fragile condition but should not suffer too much > > damage if taken care of properly. > > > > " The wood panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted is sensitive to > > temperature and climate variations. However, if its current storage > > conditions are maintained, there is no risk of degradation, " the NRC > > said in a statement. > > > > " The 12 cm (3-1/2 inch) split on the top half of the painting, which > > was probably due to the removal of the original frame and repaired > > between the middle of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, > > appears to be stable and has not worsened over time. " > > > > The council had hoped to discover more details about > > Leonardo's " sfumato " technique of subtly blending one tone into > > another, which the artist used to create a hazy effect. But scientist > > John Taylor said the team had been frustrated by the lack of brush > > stroke detail on the painting. > > > > " It's extremely thinly painted and extremely flat, and yet the > > details of the curls of hair, for example are extremely distinct. So > > the technique is unlike anything we've ever seen before. Leonardo was > > in a league of his own, " he said. > > > > Close examination of the craquelure -- the fine pattern of cracks > > formed on old paintings -- showed the paint layers were still firmly > > attached to the poplar wood panel on which Leonardo created his > > masterpiece. > > > > " We didn't see any sign of paint lifting. So for a 500-year-old > > painting it's very good news. And if they continue to keep it the way > > they have in an environment-controlled chamber, it could remain like > > that for a very long time, " Taylor said. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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