Leornardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa Essay

The famous “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most enigmatic portraits in the history of world art. The full title of the painting in Italian is “Ritratto di Monna Lisa del Giocondo” – Portrait of Mrs. Lisa Giocondo. In 1625 the picture got more simple name – “La Gioconda”. The picture was made on thin poplar board, which is now extremely fragile, that is why the work is stored behind a glass showcase with certain parameters of temperature and humidity. Leonardo carried a multi-layer painting with a stunning virtuosity and patience: after the preparation of wooden panels with several levels of coverage (even at that time there were many ways of priming the wood), he first drew the general composition, background, then applied thin layers (with oil of turpentine, that gave him the opportunity to work on the levels of transparent color). Leonardo used the so-called method “sfumato”, which is now known as “glazing”. (Mohen, 2006)
“Mona Lisa” was done in golden brown and reddish tones of the first plan and emerald-green color background. Like many of Leonardo’s work it has darkened with time, and its color ratio changed somewhat, but even now can be clearly seen the thoughtful comparison of tones of the face and clothing, and their total contrast to the bluish-green, “underwater” tone of the landscape. (Mohen, 2006)
It must be admitted that this work is considered one of the best works in the genre of portraiture, which has an amazing artistic depth. Critics emphasize the organic, from which the artist combined the characteristics of the individual portrait of a landscape full of unusual attitudes, and how much it has increased the dignity of the portrait.