The Mona Lisa: It’s one of if not the
most famous piece of art in the world. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece has
inspired numerous forgeries and impersonators but none of them can compare to
the original, which hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
None of them, that is, except for the true original
Mona Lisa that was painted by da Vinci roughly 10 years earlier. That’s right,
the Mona Lisa might have an older sister.
Mona Lisa that was painted by da Vinci roughly 10 years earlier. That’s right,
the Mona Lisa might have an older sister.
Known as the Isleworth Mona Lisa, the painting was
discovered shortly before World War I by English art collector Hugh Blaker, who
purchased it from the noble family to which it had previously belonged. Blaker
then moved the painting to his studio in Isleworth, England, giving it its
iconic name.
discovered shortly before World War I by English art collector Hugh Blaker, who
purchased it from the noble family to which it had previously belonged. Blaker
then moved the painting to his studio in Isleworth, England, giving it its
iconic name.
The Islesworth Mona Lisa is slightly larger than the
one that hangs in the Louvre and is framed by two columns. It has also been
noted that Lisa del Giocondo, the woman who posed for the portraits, appears
younger in the Isleworth version, lending credence to the theory that it was
painted earlier.
one that hangs in the Louvre and is framed by two columns. It has also been
noted that Lisa del Giocondo, the woman who posed for the portraits, appears
younger in the Isleworth version, lending credence to the theory that it was
painted earlier.
Although compelling, such evidence is far from proof
that Isleworth Mona Lisa is anything more than a convincing forgery. The
painting’s authenticity has been subject to furious debate among art historians
and collectors, until now.
that Isleworth Mona Lisa is anything more than a convincing forgery. The
painting’s authenticity has been subject to furious debate among art historians
and collectors, until now.
The Mona Lisa Foundation, which was set up to
conduct research into the work, has announced that it has “historical,
comparative and scientific evidence” that will prove once and for all that the
painting is an authentic de Vinci.
conduct research into the work, has announced that it has “historical,
comparative and scientific evidence” that will prove once and for all that the
painting is an authentic de Vinci.
Professor Carlo Pedretti of the Armand Hammer Center
for Leonardo Studies at the University of California in Los Angeles and
professor Alessandro Vezzosi, director of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in
Vinci, Italy, have lent their support to the claim. But until the foundation
unveils its new evidence, the painting will remain as mysterious as the
source of the Mona Lisa’s smile
for Leonardo Studies at the University of California in Los Angeles and
professor Alessandro Vezzosi, director of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in
Vinci, Italy, have lent their support to the claim. But until the foundation
unveils its new evidence, the painting will remain as mysterious as the
source of the Mona Lisa’s smile
