Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, more commonly known simply as Leonardo da Vinci, was the ultimate Renaissance Man -- artist, engineer, architect, scientist. (Da Vinci was NOT his last name -- in Italian, it means "of Vinci", the town in which he was born).
Even people who are not that excited about art have heard of him. And that he's the one who painted the famous Mona Lisa.
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| Mona Lisa |
Frankly, however, I never understood why this particular painting has received the notoriety that it has. It must be the most famous painting on the planet -- but why? I mean -- it's a beautifully done piece, but for whatever reason, it just doesn't grab me and pull me in. I've seen portraits that move me much more than Mona Lisa.
It may well be an image of Leonardo in drag -- there are theories about that. And her "mysterious smile" -- what's that all about? She has a hint of a smile -- so what? We ALL do from time to time!
So -- what am I missing? What makes Mona Lisa so special in people's eyes?
Mark Junge
