Leornardos Mona Lisa as the Aesthetic Work Ever - Essay Example

The account of Leonardo’s Mona Lisa is embedded in mystery because of several factors such as the time frame in which the actual painting took place, how it was acquired by the French royal, the period that Leonardo kept the portrait, the exact identity of the portrait, and the real person who commissioned the work. There is a consensus among historians that the Mona Lisa was done between 1503 and 1519. The painting was requested by Francesco Del Giocondo, the subject’s husband and a rich silk merchant. Lisa Gherardini, who was Giocondo’s wife, came from a prominent family. The Mona Lisa is thought to have been painted to celebrate the completion of the couple’s house in 1503 and to mark the birth of Andrea, the couple’s second son, in 1502. The identity of the portrait had been a subject of speculation but in 2005, its real identity was discovered(Earls 113).

The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait of a beautiful lady. The lady’s hair is covered by a delicate dark cloak. During the renaissance period, a dark veil was considered a mourning veil and may have been representing the subject’s mourning for her daughter who died in 1549. Her clothing is simple. The scarp that is wrapped around her shoulders, the pleated gown, and the yellow sleeve do not show any signs of nobility. The Mona Lisa was painted based on a realistic scale. The portrait is half-length and the woman is presented from the head to the waist. She is sitting in an armchair while her left arm is resting on the chair’s arm.

The arm of the chair is situated in front of the loggia, which is characterized by two fragmentary pillars that form the frame of the figure and form a window that faces the background. The aesthetic nature of this artwork highlights the influence of Lombard and Florentine art of the late 15th century and early 16th century. Aspects of artwork such as the architectural settings, hands put together in the forefront, and the view of the portrait against the landscape was common in Flemish portraits of the late 15th century. However, Leonardo managed to introduce several unique and special features in The Mona Lisa. The new features are the sheer equilibrium of the painting, the monumentality, and the atmospheric illusionism exhibited by the Mona Lisa (Kemp 79).

The Mona Lisa is a unique oil painting whose surface consists of cottonwood panels unlike most of the paintings that were done by other artists during Leonardo’s period, which were commonly commissioned as oil on canvas. The use of cottonwood panels as the surface of the Mona Lisa is one of the factors that have been attributed to its fame. In addition, the cottonwood panel medium has contributed to its durability. The Mona Lisa has survived for six centuries without any alteration or repair, a factor that makes it different from other artworks. Although most of the renaissance period artworks denoted biblical themes, the Mona Lisa did not portray any religious theme but was created to mark Giocondo’s achievements (Earls 114). The painting shows Leonardo’s mastery of using identifiable marks when presenting his artwork.

The use of the shadowing technique at the corners of the eyes and lips gives the portrait a look of a delight and lifelike appearance. Leonardo also developed a background that had attractive scenery and an aerial view. The technique used by Leonardo when painting did not leave any visible brush marks, a fact that makes the Mona Lisa a real masterpiece. The beaming smile by Lisa is a visual depiction of joy, which is suggested by the Italian word “Gioconda”. Da Vince used the concept of happiness as his key theme when creating the portrait. In addition, the motif of happiness is also represented by the use of warm colors and the spectacular nature of the landscape (Kemp 72).

In conclusion, the Mona Lisa is one of the most aesthetic works ever developed during the renaissance period. The creative use of colors, the spectacular landscape, and the joyful appearance of Lisa Gherardini highlight the theme of happiness. The Mona Lisa shows that Leonardo Da Vinci was a great artist. Read More