The ambiguity in the expression of the model, the unusual aspects of the half-face composition, and the masterful painting technique of the great artist Leonardo da Vinci in the Mona Lisa have intrigued scholars for 500 years since the painting’s ‘debut.’ All of this is tied to the two words “mystery.”
Mysteries in the Mona Lisa
- 1. The hidden code in her eyes
- 2. The mysterious smile
- 3. The emotions on Mona Lisa’s face
- 4. The golden ratio on Mona Lisa’s face
- 5. Does Mona Lisa have eyebrows and eyelashes?
- 6. Is Mona Lisa pregnant?
- 7. The mystery of Mona Lisa’s hands
- 8. Animal images appearing behind Mona Lisa
- 9. The painting with the highest insurance valuation in history
- 10. The painting was created on wood
- 11. Doubts about the artist Pablo Picasso
The Italian master artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) is recognized as a universal genius of the world. He is also famous for being very enigmatic, often using symbols in his works to convey messages.
The painting of Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci has inspired numerous analysts, from art to science, from optical analysis to psychological analysis.
Da Vinci’s painting of Mona Lisa.
To this day, 500 years after its creation, eight mysteries have been uncovered in the painting. However, many people still do not fully understand Da Vinci’s intentions.
“If you stand before a large image of the Mona Lisa, you will immediately understand why she is so famous. It is something you must see with your own eyes,” says French engineer Pascal Cotte.
1. The hidden code in her eyes
According to the latest findings from Italian researchers, there are many tiny numbers and letters concealed in Mona Lisa’s eyes.
“In Mona Lisa’s right eye, there is the letter LV, which is likely the initials of Leonardo da Vinci. The left eye also has a character, but it is not yet determined whether it is CE or B. There is a number 72 or the letter L and the number 2 in the arch of the eye. This painting is nearly 500 years old, so it is no longer very clear,” said Silvano Vinceti, President of the Italian National Cultural Heritage Committee.
2. The mysterious smile
Researchers have found that Leonardo Da Vinci used a self-taught technique called “Sfumato” to blend the paint colors, especially around the corners of Mona Lisa’s eyes and mouth.
This technique is believed to have created an illusion of “the mysterious smile” on Mona Lisa.
Accordingly, when viewers focus on her eyes, they can still see her smiling through their gaze. However, just a moment of looking down at her lips, and the smile seems to fade away.
3. The emotions on Mona Lisa’s face
In 2005, to assess the emotional state of Mona Lisa’s face, scientists from the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) collaborated with scholars from the University of Illinois (USA) to analyze Mona Lisa’s expression from a more scientific perspective.
Accordingly, her face was assessed to show 83% happiness, 9% disgust, 6% fear, 2% anger, less than 1% neutral, and 0% surprise.
4. The golden ratio on Mona Lisa’s face
In mathematics and art, two quantities are said to have a “golden ratio“ if the ratio of the sum of those quantities to the larger quantity is equal to the ratio of the larger quantity to the smaller quantity.
In the painting, we can see Mona Lisa’s face fitting perfectly within a golden rectangle, and the structure of the rest of the painting is also arranged in a golden spiral.
5. Does Mona Lisa have eyebrows and eyelashes?
In 2007, according to the results of a recent study by French engineer Pascal Cotte, the painting of Mona Lisa does not lack eyebrows and eyelashes as many people thought.
After scanning the painting with a 240-megapixel Multi-spectral camera he designed, which used 13 wavebands from ultraviolet to infrared, he discovered a distinctive feature in Mona Lisa’s eyes.
The close-up image of Mona Lisa’s left eye revealed a brush stroke in her eyebrow area. After this discovery, the intention behind Da Vinci’s concealment of her eyebrow and eyelash details remains unclear.
6. Is Mona Lisa pregnant?
Expert Bruno Mottin from the Center for Research and Restoration of Museums in France (C2RMF) noted that Mona Lisa’s outfit raises many questions.
Using infrared reflectography, this secret was unexpectedly revealed: it is a type of dress that exposes the shoulders. There are also very thin veils covering this dress, lightly draping over her left shoulder and the back of the chair.
Additionally, the veil seems to be sewn to a beautifully embroidered collar, worn like an outer garment.
At this point, it becomes quite clear: this style of clothing was very popular during the Renaissance—a type of sleeve dress for children, as well as for pregnant women or those who had just given birth.
British doctor Kenneth Kill also noted that the painting by the Renaissance master conveys the satisfaction of a pregnant woman.
7. The mystery of Mona Lisa’s hands
Another puzzling question in this artwork is the position of her right arm, horizontal under her belly. This was the first time an artist placed the arm and wrist of a model in such a position.
Cotte discovered that the paint color directly under her right wrist perfectly matched the color of the fabric covering her knees. Therefore, this means that her arm and wrist were supporting a blanket.
“The neck of the right arm is right above her belly. But if you look closely in infrared light, you will understand that she is supporting a blanket with her wrist,” Cotte explained.
Despite this discovery, the French engineer still does not understand the message that Da Vinci intended to convey.
8. Animal images appearing behind Mona Lisa
According to experts, if we connect the lines in the background behind Mona Lisa and rotate at an appropriate angle, we can see the images of a buffalo’s head, a lion’s head, and a monkey.
Monkey’s head behind Mona Lisa
Lion’s head behind Mona Lisa
Buffalo’s head behind Mona Lisa
Many believe there may also be a crocodile or a snake hidden on her left hand.
To this day, the ambiguity in the model’s expression and the unusual composition of the half-face continue to contribute to the painting’s allure for centuries.
9. The Most Expensively Insured Painting in History
When the “Mona Lisa” was unveiled to the world in 1962, it received the highest insurance valuation ever recorded for a painting, according to the Guinness World Records. The painting was valued at $100 million at the time, which is equivalent to approximately $957 million in 2022. This valuation is certainly justified.
The individuals responsible for handling the painting decided against purchasing insurance and instead invested more in security. Insurance was not deemed a relevant factor when it comes to a national treasure like the “Mona Lisa.” According to Gumppenberg, if the painting were to be damaged, the entire nation would hold responsibility.
10. The Painting is Made on Wood
Unlike the canvas material commonly used today, the master artist Leonardo da Vinci employed thin panels of poplar wood. Before the 16th century, wood was a favored support material for painters, and canvas was rarely used before 1470.
However, this once-popular choice led to issues approximately 500 years later. In 2004, workers at the Louvre Museum reported that the wooden support beneath the masterpiece ‘Mona Lisa’ had begun to sag, causing the painting to warp. Wood absorbs water like a sponge, leading this material to change shape with fluctuations in humidity.
11. Doubts Surrounding Artist Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso was once suspected of stealing the “Mona Lisa”. (Photo: CNN).
At the age of 29, Pablo Picasso became embroiled in the greatest theft of the 20th century. Or at least, he was suspected of the crime. In 1911, Picasso was a Bohemian artist living as a foreigner in the capital city of Paris. When the ‘Mona Lisa’ was stolen on August 12, Paris offered a reward for information regarding the theft.
The con artist Honoré Joseph Géry contacted a newspaper and confessed to having stolen a statue from the Louvre Museum years earlier, claiming to be associated with the former owner, Guillaume Apollinaire. Unfortunately for Picasso, he and Apollinaire were colleagues. As investigators pressured him, Apollinaire confessed to having sold the stolen Iberian sculptures to Picasso.
Picasso was immediately arrested and interrogated in court. Fearing deportation, Picasso denied knowing Apollinaire or any involvement in the crime. In later years, Picasso expressed his deep shame over his lie in court and could still vividly recall the betrayed look on Apollinaire’s face. Fortunately, the judge concluded that Picasso was not connected to the theft of the “Mona Lisa” and he was acquitted.
