Art Series - Mona Lisa

 

Barbara has asked me to research and talk about Leonardo's Mona Lisa. You can visit Barbara's Blog HERE.

Leonardo Da Vinci was born on 14/15 April 1452. I am also reliably informed he was born in hospital Ward A, B and C. He was a large baby who took two days to be born. His mother needed a shot of vino after all that. The nurse looked at the baby and punched his father in the face.

Leonardo was a bit of a procrastinator. Not only did he take two days to be born but he also took a long time to actually finish any painting or commission he was offered. In fact he did not decide to be a procrastinator until the following day. 

 For example, it took him about 14 years to paint the Mona Lisa.

This famous painting known as the Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda in Italian, or La Joconde in French, or the Mona Lisa in English, (I don't know what it's called in other languages), is an oil painting on poplar by Leonardo da Vinci.

Basically, it is a painting on a piece of wood which Leonardo found one day in the garage having finished painting the garden fence and gate. Apparently he had some paint left over, and so as not to waste it, he decided to paint the young lady next door whilst her husband, Francesco del Giocondo, was on a business trip to Rome and the trains were running late that day.

It took 14 years to finish that painting ... what along journey her husband must have been on!

You must admit this is a very long time for Mrs Gioconda to sit still in order to be painted.

Art experts and historians believe that the painting was painted between 1503 and 1506, although some claim that Leonardo may have still been working on it as late as 1517.

The Mona Lisa painting is the best known and most visited painting in the world. It has been talked about more than any other painting and it was also sung about by Nat King Cole and others. The reason for this is the enigmatic smile on the lady's face.

"Why is she smiling?" experts have asked over the ages. 

"Is it because she's having her picture taken?" or "Is it because Leonardo, whilst painting her, had forgotten that his trouser zipper is undone?" 

Can you imagine that for 14 years?

After extensive research, and through many conversations with art experts in London, Paris and elsewhere, I think I have the answer.

A friend of mine living in the house next door to where my aunt lives, told me why the Mona Lisa is smiling so. The reason is so obvious and so simple that I'm astounded it escaped so many art experts over the years.

If the lady in question had to sit still from 1503 to 1506, or possibly 1517, she was quite simply grimacing because she wanted to go to the toilet.

It's as simple as that.