Monday, October 26, 2009

The Mona Lisa: Famous Art


The Mona Lisa is a famous oil painting, painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci painted it during the Italian Renaissance during the years 1503 to 1506 give or take. It is a painting of a women who as described as having a mysterious expression. Her stature is what has caused it so much fascination. It was once stolen and then recovered from the Louvre. Hardly any other artworks have ever been so studied as the Mona Lisa.

It was said that da Vinci never finished it, but is thought that da Vinci continued painting it and finished it right before he died. It had traveled throughout France before it was finally noticed, appreciated, and associated with feminine charm in the mid-19th century. The Mona Lisa was a painting of Lisa del Giocondo. He named it Mona Lisa because the word Monna was a contraction of Madonna, a respectful form of address to someone similar to how we call some women ma’am or madam. So, he called it Mona Lisa for Lisa del Giocondo’s husband.

This spectacular painting is now put up on display in a special frame. It is also cleaned and touched-up in order to preserve it. The painting is being displayed in the museum's Salle des États. It is in a purpose-built, climate-controlled enclosure behind bullet-proof glass and is seen by millions at the Louvre each year. The painting is currently worth $700 million dollars.

1 comment:

  1. Great minds think alike. I was about to suggest to you to add pictures of the art you describe each week on your blog....

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