The Technique Behind Mona Lisa - 1235 Words

The art of the Renaissance was influenced by both ancient Greek and Roman culture as well as the humanism movement. The subjects of works of art were no longer limited to royal and religious figures, nor were they over idealized portrayals. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa exemplifies this trend. Working with the new medium of oil and his mastery of light, contrast, and sfumato, da Vinci created the most famous painting in the world; a work where subject and background compliment each other to form a perfect union. One of the aspects that make the Mona Lisa such a masterpiece is da Vinci’s use of oil as a medium. As the movie The Mystery of Jon van Eyck explains, the use of oil as a medium was not widely used for painting until van Eyck†¦show more content†¦Partridge explains the importance of the relationship between the background and his subject. Each feature has a role in drawing subtle attention to the smiling Mona Lisa. Mountain tops summit at her forehead, a winding road on the viewers left draws attention to the turn of the subjects right shoulder away from the viewer. The meandering river on the viewers right highlights the turn of the left shoulder towards the viewer. Furthermore, the artist â€Å"heightened Mona Lisas physical presence by placing her in a realistic environment† Here again, da Vincis sfumato technique comes into play. No harsh lines separate the subject from her background; they blend into each other as if one (121). The oneness of Mona Lisa and her background can be attributed to da Vincis own views regarding man and nature. Wallace states that da Vinci thought of man and nature as a whole. He believed that one could not be separated from the other. In an article in The Art Bulletin, Webster Smith points out the connections da Vinci drew between man and nature. Da Vinci believed that as a man has a circulatory system that delivers blood throughout the body, the earth delivers water across its body in the same way. He would later state that: â€Å"we can say that the earth has a spirit of growth and that its flesh be the soil, its bones be the arrangements and connectionShow MoreRelatedArt History 3.6 : Examine Values Placed On Artworks Essay1712 Words   |  7 PagesART HISTORY 3.6, EXAMINE VALUES PLACED ON ARTWORKS Introduction Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece the Mona Lisa established a new type of portraiture; da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa over the time period of 1503-1507, during the height of the Renaissance. The Mona Lisa is thought to be a portrait depicted of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The work itself is s a half-length portrait of a woman, which has been acclaimed to be the best known and theRead MoreThe Renaissance Painting : Leonardo Da Vinci And Leonardo Da Vinci971 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"New technical knowledge like the study of anatomy, artists achieved new heights in portraiture, landscape, and mythological and religious paintings†, Carol Strickland stated in her book â€Å"The Annotated Mona Lisa† (32). During the Renaissance period, artists discovered new techniques, that gave paintings and sculptures more character. It seems, the paintings that were created during this time, have multiple layers that give the paintings more meaning and mak es the painting livelier. An artist beforeRead MoreThe Mona Lis A Portrait Of A Woman Painted By Leonardo Da Vinci1341 Words   |  6 Pages Analysis of the Mona Lisa Amy Bone Art History 101 Shanna Fliegel November 4, 2014 Bone 1 The Mona Lisa is a portrait of a woman painted by Leonardo Da Vinci between 1503 and 1506. Leonardo Da Vinci was born April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy and died May 2, 1519 in Amboise, France. He painted the Mona Lisa using oil on White Lombardy Poplar panel. (â€Å"Mona Lisaâ€Å") The finished size of the Mona Lisa is 30  ¼Ã¢â‚¬  x 21†. He painted the Mona Lisa in Florence, Italy and it is nowRead MoreEssay on The Renaissance: Visual Analysis1515 Words   |  7 Pagesthe foundation for painting with perspective, a method that was refined and perfected by later painters and sculptors. The period towards the end of the fifteenth century was known as the High Renaissance. It was the apex of artistic innovations, techniques, and productions. The height of the Renaissance period came in the form of Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Michelangelo, who were the best-known artists of the time. Artworks produced during this time contain characteristics of geometric simplicityRead MoreThe famous masterpiece Mona Lisa created by the late great Leonardo da Vinci was a true outstanding600 Words   |  3 PagesThe famous masterpiece Mona Lisa created by the late great Leonardo da Vinci was a true outstanding that really defined the aspect of art. This mysterious woman has numerous minds wondering what she’s thinking and the million dollar question â€Å"do her eyes actually follow you?† The context behind the story of this painting is so superior. It’s amazing that the painting was left unfinished after it was lingered for over four years, wasn’t complete. It speaks truth, in small significant details, aboutRead MoreLeonardo Da Vinci And The Renaissance Period1455 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man. Leonardo was able to leave his signature and symbol of great arts down to many centuries and proved himself once to be one of the world’s greatest painter. Considered to be one of the greatest and indisputably, the most recognizable painting in the world, the Mona Lisa had captured the heart and interest of many generations. The Italian Leonardo is well known for his genius but perhaps the most well-known of his works is found in the Mona LisaRead MoreThe Influence Of Humanism In The Italian Renaissance853 Words   |  4 PagesLeonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Michelangelo’s David, and Filippo Brunelleschi’s Dome. The Mona Lisa was painted between 1503 and 1506 by Leonardo da Vinci, and is one of the most famous paintings in the world today. The painting is a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, and was painted for her husband, Francesco del Giocondo. Humanism has impacted this portrait in various ways. Lisa’s smile has been described to be so â€Å"enigmatic†[1] that people are still trying to interpret the feelings behind her smile. TheRead MoreLeonardos Mona Lisa vs. Michelangelos David Essay773 Words   |  4 PagesLeonardo’s Mona Lisa v. Michelangelo’s David The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1503-6, is oil on panel. It is a three quarter portrait of a young, Florentine woman. She is sitting in a chair with her torso twisting around to face the viewer. Her hands are resting on the arm of the chair. Behind the woman in the background is a landscape very characteristic of many Leonardo paintings. The Mona Lisa was painted toward the end of Leonardo’s career. In contrast, the David created byRead MoreFinal Paper1445 Words   |  6 Pagesoutlet and a means for expression. This paper will discuss â€Å" The Mona Lisa† one of Da Vinci’s most famous paintings, as well as another great painting, Antonio Veneziano’s â€Å"Virgin and Child†(c. 1380). Both paintings focus on the human form and exhibit many variations of styles from lines, shading, color and possible meanings behind the work. The first piece of artwork that will be looked is from the Renaissance Era. Da Vinci’s â€Å"Mona Lisa†(c. 1519) a painting that is known around the world, which hasRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Renaissance1547 Words   |  7 Pagesthe foundation for painting with perspective, a method that was refined and perfected by later painters and sculptors. The period towards the end of the fifteenth century was known as the High Renaissance. It was the apex of artistic innovations, techniques, and productions. The height of the Renaissance period came in the form of Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Michelangelo, who were the best-known artists of the time. Artworks produced during this time contain characteristics of geometric simplicity